Use New NAHB Jobsite Video Resources During National Preparedness Month
This post was updated Sept. 8.
September is National Preparedness Month, an official U.S. government awareness campaign on the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
This year's theme is Prepare to Protect, highlighting how preparing for disaster is an act of protecting those that you love. With hurricane season in full swing, now is a great time to prepare to protect home building workers and jobsites.
NAHB has just released two new video toolbox talks that directly address jobsite preparedness and response to natural disasters: Jobsite Disaster Preparedness and Jobsite Disaster Response.
Disaster Preparedness
Preparing a jobsite before a disaster plays a vital role in ensuring that employers and workers have the necessary equipment, know where to go, and know how to keep themselves and the project safe. All of this should be part of a site's Emergency Action Plan, required by OSHA on certain sites.
Watch the video toolbox talk below for tips on jobsite preparation (also available in Spanish) and visit the video page to download a one-page fact sheet.
Disaster Response
When responding to and recovering from natural disasters, workers can face a multitude of unique hazards in working in a post-disaster environment. Have emergency supplies, proper personal protective equipment, and communications devices, such as radios, ready before the disaster strikes.
Once you return to the jobsite, be on the lookout for the most common hazards:
- Contaminated flood waters
- Downed trees
- Exposed electrical wires
- Damaged and unstable structures
- Wildlife interactions
- Household hazardous materials such as asbestos or lead
Watch the video toolbox talk below for disaster response and jobsite clean-up tips (also available in Spanish) and visit the video page to download a one-page fact sheet.
Latest from NAHBNow
Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell three points to 32 in September, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.
The need for a skilled labor force remains a top priority in the industry. This presents a unique opportunity for women across all levels of home building to make a significant impact on this niche sector.
Latest Economic News
Inflation in August remained sticky as renewed tensions with Iran continued pushing up oil prices, keeping pressure on the Fed to consider a rate hike at its upcoming meeting.
Existing home sales fell for the third consecutive month as record-high home prices and elevated mortgage rates weighed on buyers. Mortgage rates resumed an upward trend after the July ceasefire ended.
Residential building material prices, excluding energy, rose 0.2% in August and were up 5.1% from a year ago. Energy prices rose sharply in August, as prices for energy inputs to residential construction rose 6.6% over the month.