Infrastructure Resources: Keeping Construction Workers Safe as America Rebuilds

Broadband Infrastructure Safety and Health Resources

Laying fiber-optic cableThe Broadband category in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes the construction of or improvements to the infrastructure and facilities needed to provide broadband services.

The following resources are intended to help employers engaged in construction projects covered by this IIJA funding category quickly find information and materials they can use to keep their construction workforce safe and healthy. These resources are divided into the following sections:

Planning

Safety Climate and Safety Culture Tools — Online tools to measure safety climate based on eight leading indicators and resources to improve low scoring indicators and strengthen a company’s safety culture and climate.

Best Built Plans – Manual Materials Handling — Practical tools and information to plan for safe materials handling at each project stage starting with the bid and reinforce workers’ awareness and use of safe practices. Also available in Spanish.

Exposure Control Database — An interactive tool helping the industry predict workers’ exposure to four hazards: silica, welding fumes, noise and lead.

Written Fall Protection & Rescue Plan — A generic plan that can be printed and filled in with details for a company’s job site(s). Also available in Spanish.

COVID-19 Exposure Control Planning Tool — An online planning tool to help employers create a plan to protect their employees and prevent the spread of COVID-19 on job sites.

 

Training and Education

Training and Awareness Programs

 

Training Programs Available to Labor-Management Apprenticeship and Training Programs

In partnership with NABTU affiliates and the contractors who employ their members, CPWR has developed a series of safety and health training programs for use in union labor-management apprenticeship and training programs. For example:

  • Smart Mark — This interactive program meets and exceeds the requirements of the OSHA Construction 10- and 30-hour programs. It covers 20 topics.

 

Toolbox Talks Series — Brief hazard-specific discussion sheets to use on job sites during morning check-ins or other safety meetings to raise workers’ awareness of hazards they may encounter on the job and steps being taken to mitigate their risk. Examples of the more than 70 Toolbox Talks, which are available in English and Spanish, include:

  • Preventing incidents associated with cranes becoming unstable and tipping — English and Spanish
  • The importance of wearing head protection to prevent injuries — English and Spanish

 

Hazard Alert Cards — Short, image-driven materials that describe a specific safety or health hazard and protective measures. These can be used as handouts on job sites or included in training and educational programs. Examples of the more than 30 Hazard Alert Cards, which are available in English and Spanish, include:

 

Videos — A series of videos on safety and health topics that can be viewed on their own or included in training and education programs. Many are also available in Spanish, and topics include:

Best Practices and Solutions

Construction Solutions— An online database of information on hazards, and practical control measures that can be used to reduce or eliminate those hazards. The database includes a broad array of solutions for different types of work. Examples include:

 

Stop Construction Falls — A one-stop source of information on the National Campaign to Prevent Falls, including materials to use with workers and on job sites to raise awareness of risks and prevention.

Preventing Struck-By Hazards — Programs and resources to improve work zone safety and prevent struck-by incidents on all types of projects, including being struck-by flying, falling, swinging, or rolling objects.

Working in Cold Weather — Resources to raise awareness and prevent health problems, such as hypothermia and frostbite, caused by working in a cold environment.

Working in Hot Weather — Resources to raise awareness and prevent health problems, such as heat stroke, caused by working in a hot environment.

COVID-19 Construction Clearinghouse — Contains guidance documents, research, job site practices, and training materials to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Infographics — Using data from CPWR research and other trusted sources, these infographics raise awareness of occupational hazards and solutions. Available in English and Spanish, topics include:

Research

CPWR Research Projects identify evidence-based technologies and work practices to address known and emerging hazards and ways to put findings into practice to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses. There are ongoing studies lasting up to five years, as well as a Small Study Program that provides seed money of up to $30,000 for promising new research initiatives. The following are examples of research projects:

Completed Research

 

Small Studies