Economic indicators point to a future in which the U.S. construction industry will depend more and more on the critical skills of an increasingly diverse workforce to deliver the high-quality construction projects expected by both owners and consumers. The National Diversity Committee has developed several tools to assist ABC members and chapters in working with America's diverse workforce; the Diversity Manual, Assessment of Diversity Activities and Practices, Diversity Initiative Grant and diversity products. If you have any questions regarding these toools, please contact
diversity@abc.org.
ABC's National Diversity Committee is developing a new Supplier Diversity Program Manual for its members. The Manual is intended to be a "how-to" tool to help our members develop and implement a Supplier Diversity program in their companies.
Building and sustaining diversity have emerged as key issues that construction companies must address as they invest in the future. Member companies can use this
assessment tool (PDF) to evaluate diversity within your organizations.
ABC has allocated funds to support diversity efforts at the chapter level. The primary purpose of the grant is to support new and existing programs at local chapters that:
- Increase the diversity of the chapter's membership to reflect the diversity of the construction industry
- Provide education to minority and women-owned construction firms to increase their ability to be competitive in a free-enterprise environment, and/or
- Attract minorities and women into the construction workforce.
The
grant application is designed to capture the information that is necessary so that successful programs can be replicated across the country. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2008.
This CD-ROM includes 86 English- and Spanish- language safety "toolbox talks" that project managers can use and customize for their jobsites. Contractors can insert their company logo, adapt the material for specific projects and distribute the talks electronically to jobsites.
Recognizing that Hispanics represent a growing segment of the construction workforce, ABC has developed a Spanish/English pocket dictionary that includes words and phrases used on constructions sites. The pocket dictionary will enable project managers and workers to better communicate with non-English speaking construction workers and improve safety on jobsites.
ABC developed safety orientation videos for company managers to show to new employees an project managers to show to workers beginning work on new projects. The 22-minute video provides an overview of what workers need to do to ensure a safe jobsite, including protecting themselves from fall hazards, caught between points and electrical hazards.
This 25-minute video, geared to new employees, provides crucial information on such topics as teamwork, customer service, preventing sexual harassment, creating a drug-free workplace, personal safety and security, and preventing workplace violence.