PRINTER'S NO. 1924
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
361
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, BIZZARRO, DiGIROLAMO, HILL-EVANS,
HOHENSTEIN, JAMES, KAUFER, KORTZ, KULIK, MACKENZIE, MILLARD,
NEILSON, OBERLANDER, POLINCHOCK, PYLE, READSHAW, RYAN, SAYLOR
AND WILLIAMS, MAY 30, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 30, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of July 21 through 27, 2019, as
"Construction Opioids Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The number of drug overdose deaths has never been
higher, and, in 2017, the majority of these deaths, or 68%,
involved opioids; 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 older workforce, has a much
higher injury rate than the general industry, making it
vulnerable to the opioid epidemic; and
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
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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 construction industry employers, 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: NUCA Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Building and
Construction Trades Council, Keystone Mountain Lakes Regional
Council of Carpenters, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning
Contractors' National Association - Pennsylvania Chapter,
Pennsylvania Builders Exchange, Architectural Glass and Metal
Association, Ironworker Employers Association of Western
Pennsylvania, General Building Contractors Association, Master
Builders' Association of Western Pennsylvania, National
Electrical Contractors Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter,
Mechanical Contractors Association of America - Pennsylvania
Chapters and Laborers International Union of North America -
Pennsylvania Council; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
week of July 21 through 27, 2019, as "Construction Opioids
Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the construction industry in Pennsylvania be
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encouraged to promote awareness of the dangers of opioids and
prescription drug abuse with workers in the industry and to
pledge to facilitate discussions and events such as toolbox
talks and drug take-back events to combat the opioid and
prescription drug abuse epidemic in this Commonwealth's
construction industry.
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