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MBA Safety News - March 2021
National Safety Stand-Down
to Prevent Falls in Construction

The 8th annual National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction is scheduled for May 3-7, 2021.

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 320 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2018 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.

Companies can conduct a Safety Stand-Down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job specific hazards. MBA members are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace. See Suggestions to Prepare for a Successful "Stand-Down" and Highlights from the Past Stand-Downs for more information.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention in Construction

The construction industry is raising awareness and encouraging open discussion about mental health and substance abuse to reduce suicide in the workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic has added stress, anxiety, and fear to contractors already high risk of suicide. We can all agree this is a scary subject and we need to address the public health crisis in our country. But how do we heal our workforce? Please use these AGC of America Resources to help you spot warning signs, start the conversation, and provide support to those who need it – which can save lives. It takes construction professionals at all levels working together and with their risk partners to build a culture of caring and prevention.
COVID-19: Ventilation Tips for Indoor Construction Sites

New guidance from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training is aimed at improving ventilation at indoor construction sites that don’t have working heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems.

When HVAC systems aren’t operating on a construction site, CPWR recommends the following:

  • Open windows, doors, and other passages, when weather permits, to increase fresh outdoor air in a space.

  • Use fans to increase airflow and introduce more outdoor air.

  • Place fans so fresh air is drawn in from one opening in the workspace and exhausted out through another opening on the other side of the space.

  • Place fans so they move air away from workers, to avoid blowing potentially contaminated air from one worker to another.

  • Don’t use pedestal fans because they regularly mix the air rather than provide ventilation.

  • Inspect and change filters in fans and air cleaners per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

  • When changing filters, handle them as little as possible and wash hands afterward.

  • Consider monitoring carbon dioxide at the worksite, as elevated levels can indicate poor air circulation.
Application Period Extended for the 22nd Annual AGC Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA)
Applications are now due on March 31
The AGC Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA), sponsored by Willis Towers Watson, is the industry’s elite safety excellence awards program. The CSEA recognizes companies that have developed and implemented premier safety and risk control programs and showcases companies that have achieved continuous improvement and maintenance of their safety and health management systems. Don’t miss this opportunity to be recognized for your best-in-class safety program!
MBA 2020 Individual Safety Recognition

MBA would like to recognize your employees who have achieved safety excellence within your safety program with a certificate of recognition. Please complete the form and email or mail it to the MBA.
Bob McCall
Director of Safety
Master Builders' Association of Western PA, Inc.