PRINTER'S NO. 1851
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
345
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY YUDICHAK, KILLION, BROWNE, DINNIMAN, ARGALL,
FARNESE, MENSCH, BREWSTER, PITTMAN, SCAVELLO AND TARTAGLIONE,
JULY 13, 2020
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JULY 13, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of July 27 through 31, 2020, as
"Construction Opioids Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Opioids are deadly and are responsible for claiming
approximately 450,000 American lives between 1999 and 2018; and
WHEREAS, In 2018 alone, there were 67,367 deaths involving
opioids; and
WHEREAS, The breathtaking number of deaths in 2018 was
actually a decrease, as it was 4% fewer than the previous year;
and
WHEREAS, In 2020, while the COVID-19 epidemic sweeps across
our country, Pennsylvanians should not forget about the opioid
epidemic; and
WHEREAS, The Governor has declared the epidemic of heroin and
opioid addiction to be a Statewide disaster emergency; and
WHEREAS, The construction industry, which involves physically
demanding labor and employs an aging workforce, has been
particularly vulnerable to the opioid epidemic; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
WHEREAS, Drug abuse issues in the construction industry
endanger not only the individual worker but the companies they
work for, other workers on the jobsite and the general public
near jobsites; and
WHEREAS, The summer months are the busiest months for the
construction industry and are an ideal time for promoting
awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse in the industry; and
WHEREAS, The Keystone Contractors Association has partnered
with the National Safety Council to create an educational
toolbox for members of the construction industry, including
materials to facilitate discussions with workers about the
dangers of opioids and prescription drug abuse, and "Warn Me"
stickers to place on workers' insurance cards in the hopes of
encouraging health care providers to discuss opioid issues with
those workers; and
WHEREAS, The following groups plan to join the Keystone
Contractors Association and the National Safety Council in
promoting awareness of the dangers of opioids and prescription
drug abuse within the construction industry during the last full
week in July: National Utility Contractors Association -
Pennsylvania Chapter, Pennsylvania Building & Construction
Trades Council, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of
Carpenters, Laborers International Union of North America -
Pennsylvania Council, Sheet Metal Contractors & Air Conditioning
Contractors National Association - Pennsylvania Chapter, Master
Builders' Association of Western Pennsylvania, National
Electrical Contractors Association of Western Pennsylvania,
Mechanical Contractors Association of America - Pennsylvania
Chapter, Pennsylvania Builders Exchange, Architectural Glass &
Metal Association, Ironworker Employers Association of Western
20200SR0345PN1851 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Pennsylvania and the General Building Contractors Association;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of July 27
through 31, 2020, as "Construction Opioids Awareness Week" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the construction industry in Pennsylvania be
encouraged to promote awareness of the dangers of opioids and
prescription drug abuse with workers in the industry and
facilitate discussions and events such as "Drug Take Back"
events to combat the opioid and prescription drug abuse epidemic
in Pennsylvania's construction industry.
20200SR0345PN1851 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11