The Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences is honored to be part of the Oregon COVID-19 Construction Task Force. Dede Montgomery, MS, CIH, and a member of the Institute and Oregon Healthy Workforce Center outreach and education team, has participated in task force meetings and leads the Institute effort. The Institute’s key support to this task force is to make the resources developed by the task force readily visible and accessible to those seeking construction best practices in the time of COVID-19. Visit the newly created Oregon COVID-19 Construction Task Force Resources Website. Although the task force’s focus is operations within Oregon, the resources and materials that have been developed will be useful to others outside of Oregon who are working to reduce exposure hazards and prevent infection within construction operations.
The task force is a partnership of union and non-union industry professionals, with support from Oregon OSHA. The group meets twice a week to monitor health information and government guidelines, and to collect data and information. It will continue to coordinate job site visits as long as Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s “Stay Home, Save Lives” executive order is in place. Members include:
- Associated General Contractors-Oregon Columbia Chapter
- Central Oregon Building and Construction Trades Council
- Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council
- Hoffman Construction Company
- Lane, Coos, Curry, Douglas Building & Construction Trades Council
- NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center
- O’Neill Construction Group
- Oregon Home Builders Association
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences
- Oregon OSHA
- Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council
- Oregon Tradeswomen
- Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters
- Pendleton Building Trades Council
- Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association
- Salem Building and Construction Trades Council
- Southern Oregon Building and Construction Trades Council
- University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center, LERC
- Worksystems
The webpage currently highlights best practices and innovations observed on Oregon construction sites to reduce or eliminate on-the-job exposure to COVID-19. Additionally, articles addressing the task force work are also included. The website is regularly updated as new practices, innovations and resources are developed. Our Institute appreciates opportunities like this to collaborate with others to provide safe and healthy workplaces in Oregon and beyond.
