New NAHB Video Toolbox Talk Provides Guidance on Coronavirus Safety

NAHB has published a video toolbox talk that demonstrates proper safety precautions for workers on a home building job site to prevent the transmission of the new coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 illness.

The video, available in English and Spanish, is intended to provide live examples of guidance NAHB has provided to members during the coronavirus crisis, including materials created for the COVID-19 Job Site Safety Stand Down held April 16.

Many residential construction firms have been allowed to continue work throughout the state shutdowns, and all states will allow construction activities to resume shortly. Every indication is that the new coronavirus threat will not be going away any time soon, however, and proper virus transmission safety will need to be followed for the foreseeable future.

Protecting all construction workers will depend on following basic infection prevention measures such as practicing good personal hygiene and following job-site safety practices to prevent the spread of the virus.

Examples of practices demonstrated in the video that are specific to the construction industry include:

• Clean shared spaces such as trailers and break/lunchrooms at least once per day
• Disinfect shared surfaces (door handles, machinery controls, etc.) on a regular basis
• Avoid sharing tools with co-workers. If not, disinfect before and after each use
• In the absence of N95 respirators, protect workers from dust using work control methods
• Practice social distancing by maintaining six feet between each worker, when possible
• Use cloth face protectors and masks to prevent virus transmission

These videos were developed in conjunction with the Job-Site Safety Institute and the National Housing Endowment.

Watch the video below, and visit the video toolbox talk page for the Spanish version and a one-page handout for workers.

For more information on COVID-19 job site safety, please contact Rob Matuga.