editor’s Letter Compassion in a Time of Coronavirus
Whether you agree with Rep. Wendy Ullman (D-PA) that masks are political theatre or not, the bullying taking place in cities in the United States when it comes to forcing people to wear a facemask lends itself to a dystopian horror story. On my way to the grocery store the other day, I saw a woman walking from her front porch to her mailbox with a mask on her face. Why, I wondered, did this poor woman feel the need to wear a mask to walk along her driveway, where she would encounter no other human beings? The answer, I believe, is fear. She has been taught to fear something out here in the world. That fear is costing the construction industry real dollars in continuing workforce issues and in lost project revenue. The results of a workforce survey conducted in June by the Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk, paint the picture of a construction industry in need of immediate recovery measures and longer-term workforce development support, association officials remarked. AGC reported: “The coronavirus has undermined the sector’s productivity levels as firms across the country change the way they operate to protect workers and the public from the disease. Forty-four percent of responding firms report that it has taken longer to complete projects and 32 percent say it has cost more to complete ongoing projects because of the coronavirus. As a result, 40 percent report they have adopted new hardware or software to alleviate labor shortages they have experienced.” Looking for the silver lining, I’m reminded of Caroline Ingalls telling her daughters “There’s no great loss without some small gain.” Makers, suppliers and distributors of personal protective equipment (PPE) have stepped up to the plate, and safety directors are getting through to their teams—both in the field and upper management—that health-and-wellness is vital to overall safety. In other words, I can see that the safety conversation has expanded exponentially this year. I’m calling that a win. While we’re looking at the expanded safety conversation as a positive, let’s not forget that the increased need for PPE may be a catalyst for the level of fear and/or anxiety crewmembers feel. I won’t make light of anyone’s reaction to any perceived threat. In fact, as we send this magazine to press, the United States is gearing up for an election that could result in days, if not weeks, of uncertainty of outcome. Uncertainty breeds anxiety for many people. Whichever candidate is announced triumphant has the potential to send a portion of the workforce into a sense of foreboding. Blame that scenario on whatever factors you wish to blame it on, but the fact remains some members of your team may feel some amount of despair after November. Some members of your team may be trying to cope with a level of fear concerning an ongoing pandemic. Some members of your team may be taking on emotional or psychological worries from out of left field. Check out this month’s Safety Spotlight from Valerie Echter for guidance and thoughts on this topic. Check out the article from Cal Beyer and John Hickey “Candid Safety to Save Lives” now on theasphaltpro.com. And be aware that the health and wellness conversation must continue to expand to include the overall wellbeing of the members of your team. Stay Safe,
Sandy Lender
Watch officials from AGC discuss the workforce survey results and COVID-19 ramifications at the AGC facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/AGCofA/ videos/611411286211942
6 // November 2020
November 2020 • Vol. 14 No.2
asphaltPRO
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(573) 823-6297 • www.theasphaltpro.com GROUP PUBLISHER Chris Harrison chris@ theasphaltpro.com PUBLISHER Sally Shoemaker sally@theasphaltpro.com (573) 823-6297 EDITOR Sandy Lender sandy@theasphaltpro.com (239) 272-8613 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sarah Redohl sarah@theasphaltpro.com (573) 355-9775 MEDIA SALES Cara Owings cara@theasphaltpro.com (660) 537-0778 ART DIRECTOR Kristin Branscom BUSINESS MANAGER Susan Campbell (660) 728-5007
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