The Construction Advantage, Helping Our First Responders with N-95 Respirator Masks

Helping Our First Responders with N-95 Respirator Masks

By Kelly Gagliuso

In this unprecedented time of social distancing and quarantine, it is more important than ever that we work together as a community to support those helping us and making a difference.

Our friends in the construction industry are leading the charge by donating spare N-95 respirator masks to hospitals and other medical facilities in need. Construction workers use these masks to filter out silica and other particulates composed of harmful airborne substances. In a White House briefing this week Vice President Pence asked construction companies with stocks of N-95 masks to consider providing them to medical personnel, indicating that they are “perfectly acceptable for health care workers.” The Vice President also asked contractors to refrain from ordering more masks until the shortages caused by the COVID-19 crisis are addressed.

Associated Builders of New Hampshire and Vermont and Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts have each sent out alerts to their members seeking help, and it is no surprise to us that contractors are responding to the call.  We are proud to note that our friends at Meridian Construction, Mark Carrier Construction and Harvey Construction among others have already made very generous and gratefully received donations of N-95 respirator masks in New Hampshire, while Suffolk Construction has made a large donation in Massachusetts.

We want to help spread the word to our industry partners – please consider donating unused stocks of N-95 respirator masks to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle. If you have masks that can be donated, please contact a local or regional hospital to find out the best way to get them to the medical professionals who desperately need them. Many local construction trade groups are also assisting in these vital efforts.

We are all in this together, and we are here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, whether to help connect you with a healthcare provider for donating masks or to support you with any other challenge you may be facing right now.

Resources:

Washington Post

Catholic Medical Center

Engineering News-Record