How The Construction Industry Can Help During Coronavirus

Coronavirus or COVID-19 is here and it’s going to impact the construction industry. We’re seeing architects working from home, building inspections cancelled and/or rescheduled and in some cases, cities mandating the halt of construction.

During an emergency we often ask ourselves, what can we do to help?

How to help:

• Donate N95 masks to your local area hospital

• Donate safety goggles/eyewear

• Practice social distancing as much as possible (I suggest reading this article on why it’s important: LINK)

Why it’s important to donate:

Now and in the coming weeks, our healthcare workers will be on the frontlines. To protect their health and their ability to care for patients, we must ensure that they have the personal protective gear they need.

Already we’re seeing hospitals require staff to re-use masks and ask the public for donations.

• Got extra masks or goggles? Massachusetts hospitals already running short, ask for donations

• Hospital workers make masks from office supplies amid US shortage

• Hospitals facing coronavirus are running out of masks, other key equipment

In response to the shortage, the White House on Tuesday, March 17th asked construction companies to donate their N95 inventory of masks.

“We would make one specific request, and that is we would urge construction companies to donate their inventory of N95 masks to your local hospital and forgo additional orders of those industrial masks. Because of what the president asked to be included in legislation moving through the Congress today, those industrial masks that they use on construction sites are perfectly acceptable for health care workers to be protected from a respiratory disease.

“We are asking construction companies that our president knows very well from his background. We are asking them to donate their N95 masks to their local hospitals and also forgo making additional orders.”

– Vice President Mike Pence

How to donate N95 masks and protective eyewear:

Step 1: Call your local area hospital and ask for the operator. Ask the operator if the hospital is accepting donations of masks & protective eyewear

Step 2: Ask the operator how they want to receive donations

Tip: Be specific with what and how much you have

Step 3: Share a pic of your donation on social media with the hashtag #coviddonation to help spread the word. We will be reposting and sharing your acts of kindness.

Please consider donating any available masks and eyewear you may have. Together, we will overcome this challenge.

*If you are actively working on a job that requires personal protective gear like masks, please make sure to continue to wear your gear and stay safe. This call for donations is for extra supplies or anything that can be spared.