There is a wealth of free safety resources available to construction professionals from government agencies and trade associations. Here is just a sample.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA has short pre-written safety meetings, or “Toolbox Talks,” on workplace hazards and OSHA regulations. OSHA Toolbox Talks include Biohazards/Infectious Disease Prevention, Fall Protection and Prevention, Hazard Communication/GHS, Fire Protection and Prevention, Lockout/Tagout, Personal Protective Equipment, Electrical Safety, Basic Scaffold Safety, Trenching and Excavation Safety. New toolbox talks are published on the OSHA website each month.
American Society of Safety Professionals
ASSP’s resources on Fall Protection include Creating a Fall Protection Plan, Implementing Industry Best Practices, and Proper Equipment Use and Training. Resources include articles, podcasts and webinars. ASSP offers virtual training for a fee.
Associated Builders and Contractors
ABC has extensivelibrary of Safety Resources, with links to government agencies’ safety resources, information on COVID-19 and natural disaster and emergency response.
General Resource links include:
• Checklist for Civil Unrest;
• Active Shooter Preparedness;
• Disaster Contractors Network Portal;
• Medical Precautions for Disaster Workers;
• Personal Protective Equipment;
• Portable Ladders;
• Post Exposure Medical Precautions for Disaster Workers;
• Rodents, Snakes, Insects and Fire Ants; and
• Tree Removal/Chain Saws.
Government Agencies resource links include:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has information on COVID-19, vaccines and natural disasters;
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, with advisories and safety tips to help disaster response and recovery efforts;
- OSHA offers information on preparing and training for emergencies and COVID-19 prevention and guidelines;
- READY.GOV, a national public service campaign on preparing for, responding to and mitigating natural and man-made disasters;
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; and
- EPA.GOV, which has information on EPA Approved Disinfectants for COVID-19; and What Construction Workers Need to Know About COVID-19.
Natural Disasters and Emergencies links include:
- Carbon Monoxide Hazards/Generator Safety;
- Natural Disasters and Severe Weather;
- Confined Spaces;
- Earthquake Preparedness;
- Electrical Hazards;
- Filling and Placing Sandbags;
- Hurricane Preparedness;
- Mold, Fungi and Flood Cleanup;
- Personal Protective Equipment;
- Tornado Preparedness;
- Tree Removal/Chain Saws;
- Wildfire Preparedness; and
- Construction Site Hurricane Protection.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NIOSH is part of CDC. It offers a Directory of Construction Resources with a wealth of information on everything from aerial lifts to trenching and excavation. Just some of the resources include:
Check out NIOSH’s report, 50 Years of NIOSH Construction Health and Safety Research.
CPWR- The Center for Construction Research and Training
CPWR offers training courses and research, such as a report on Construction Personal Protective Equipment for Female Workers.
National Safety Council
NSC offers Workplace Safety information on musculoskeletal disorders; work to zero; mental health; COVID-19; fatigue; drugs at work; workplace violence; and slips, trips and falls.
National Association of Women in Construction
NAWIC’s series of safety webinars include:
- OSHA’s Silica Rule Update (Video) (Podcast);
- Creating and Implementing a Strong Safety Culture;
- Confined Space Safety;
- Female Personal Protective Equipment Manufacturer; and
- Protective Equipment for Female Construction Workers: Does it Fit?
