Handouts, Planning Tools & Training Programs

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BEST BUILT PLANS

Preventing Injury & Improving Productivity by Reducing Manual Materials Handling

Manually lifting and moving heavy materials on job sites can result in strain, sprain, and related soft tissue injuries. These types of injuries cost businesses billions of dollars and are a leading cause of disabling injuries in the construction industry. Best Built Plans provides contractors and workers with practical tools and information to plan for safe materials handling while staying productive and profitable. (See article “It’s Time to Stop the Pain: Preventing Overexertion Injuries,” CFMA Building Profits – The Magazine for Construction Financial Professionals.)

Best Built Plans

A short video introduces you to the program and how to use it to help plan for safe materials handling throughout a project’s life cycle – from preparing the bid through completing the project.

Watch the video in English or in Spanish.

Site Planning Tool

Tailored for use at each stage of a project, from preparing a bid to project completion, including pre-set spreadsheets, material weights, storage and handling options, daily checklists, training materials, hazard alert cards, toolbox talks, and related microgames.

Access the Planning Tool in English or Spanish

Training Resources

Interactive exercises with narration to increase a worker’s understanding of the need to plan lifts, and to introduce equipment, work practices, and lifting techniques that can help reduce the risk for injury.

Coaching

Interactive exercises that introduce warm-up activities and the fundamentals of lifting practices, and allows users to test their knowledge.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE PC-BASED PROGRAM

The complete Best Built Plans Program, including the Site Planning Tool and Interactive Training and Coaching Resources, is available to use on your computer.  Follow the prompts to install.*
*If you need help, click HERE for step-by-step instructions. Please note: if you receive a message “BestBuiltPlans(1)zip is not commonly downloaded and may be dangerous,” please click on the up arrow and click “Keep.”  This is a message some browsers are using for new applications.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP

Need it on the Go?

The entire Best Built Plans Program, including all the planning, training, and coaching resources, is now available as a free app for your Android or iOS phone or tablet.

Infographics & Posters

Also available are infographics and posters to reinforce safer materials handling practices — post them on job sites or use them in printed materials, presentations, on your website, or social media.

Ergonomics Training Programs and Resources

Click here for training materials (including our comprehensive ergonomics training program for contractors and workers), research, and other resources that can help prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

We Want to Hear From You!

We want to learn from users what’s working, what needs to be improved, and what other resources are needed. Please take a few minutes to share your feedback by taking this brief anonymous survey .