SAN RAFAEL, Calif.,
Nov. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- According to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of private
sector worker fatalities in the construction industry. Everyone who
works at heights, whether it's on a roof, scaffolding, or the edge
of a tall building, should have properly fitting safety harnesses,
yet not all contractors have the supply they need to better protect
women in construction. To help address this, Autodesk is funding a
grant program with one of the largest construction trade
organizations – the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)
– to supply select, in-need member contractors with fall protection
harnesses sized for women who work at heights.
The program comes at a time when 80 percent of construction
firms report having a hard time filling the hourly craft positions
that represent the bulk of the construction workforce. Women
represent approximately 10 percent of the overall construction
labor force1, with even lower representation in trades
positions, and one of the largest demographics with the potential
to fill the gap in labor. To help attract and retain more women in
the field, jobsites need to recognize and meet the needs of a
gender-diverse workforce, including properly sized and comfortable
PPE.
"The construction industry agrees safety must be everyone's
priority, but we also need to recognize when safety needs aren't
being met for some workers. Technology is improving jobsite safety,
but it's not a silver bullet," said Allison
Scott, director, Autodesk Construction Solutions.
"Construction is – and will continue to be – a people-driven
business. The industry needs more people, and women must feel
safe and welcome on jobsites if we want them to choose a career in
construction. Ultimately, when we address safety for women, we
improve safety for everyone."
Ill-fitting PPE can range from uncomfortable to downright
dangerous. For example, a fall protection harness that's too loose
may still catch a woman when the scaffolding beneath her collapses,
but it could seriously injure her neck or shoulder in the process.
This not only affects the injured worker, but her employer as well.
The contractor incurs lost time, productivity and – potentially – a
costly worker's compensation claim.
"One of the most effective ways to successfully recruit more
women into high-paying construction careers is to make sure firms
are able to provide safety equipment that makes them even safer,"
said Stephen E. Sandherr, the chief
executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America.
"We want to leverage these grants to encourage our member firms to
provide a wider range of safety equipment and continue to expand
the diversity of our workforce."
A top concern of contractors is the safety of their employees,
and many are recognizing the shifting landscape in the construction
workforce and taking steps toward a more inclusive, injury-free job
site. Earlier this year, Skanska created gloves and two customized
safety vests designed for women and based on feedback from its own
female employees. The company plans to expand the apparel line soon
to include surveyor vests and high-visibility jackets for
winter.
The grant program will fund the purchase of approximately 300
fall protection harnesses sized for women. AGC members can apply
for the grants until the application window closes on January 10, 2020. Winners will be notified in
advance and honored at the AGC's annual convention, to be held
March 9-12, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV.
AGC members can apply for the grant here.
About Autodesk
Autodesk makes software for people who make things. If you've
ever driven a high-performance car, admired a towering skyscraper,
used a smartphone, or watched a great film, chances are you've
experienced what millions of Autodesk customers are doing with our
software. Autodesk gives you the power to make anything. For more
information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.
About The Associated General Contractors of America
The Associated General Contractors of America works to ensure
the continued success of the commercial construction industry by
advocating for supportive federal, state and local measures;
providing opportunities for firms to learn about ways to become
more accomplished and connecting them with the resources and
individuals they need to be successful business and corporate
citizens.
Autodesk and the Autodesk logo are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or
affiliates in the USA and/or other
countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks
belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to
alter product and services offerings, and specifications and
pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for
typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
© 2019 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2019,
https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18.htm
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SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.