Health: Addiction

Gilbane Building Company Receives Special Designation as a Recovery Friendly Workplace

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (PRWEB)

Gilbane Building Company, headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, has attained Recovery Friendly Workplace designation in accordance with the standards set by Rhode Island’s Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative.

In a Certificate of Special Recognition, Governor Daniel J. McKee applauded the family-owned construction management firm for their commitment to eliminating barriers for those impacted by addiction, demonstrating a willingness to support people with addiction, and establishing employment practices in line with recovery friendly ideals.

Naloxone Rescue Kits

The construction industry is disproportionately affected by addiction. A study conducted by the Rhode Island Department of Heath and published in the Rhode Island Medical Journal in 2019 found that workers in the construction, maintenance, and natural resources sectors accounted for 25 percent of opioid-related deaths in Rhode Island. Of these victims, one in five had an occupation specifically in construction.

In efforts to combat this crisis and create a working environment that wholly supports employee health and well-being, as well as reduces the stigma associated with addiction, Gilbane entered a memorandum of understanding in 2019 with the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team’s Medical Reserve Corp and its Naloxone and Overdose Prevention Education (NOPE-RI) program to equip all project sites throughout the state with “Naloxone Rescue Kits.”

Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, reverses the effects of opioids, allowing an individual experiencing an overdose to breathe normally. Given early enough, along with other first aid tactics, Naloxone can reduce the morbidity and mortality related to opioid overdose.

Additionally, Gilbane personnel working in Rhode Island were trained by the RI Department of Health in the administration and usage of Naloxone, as well as to recognize the signs and symptoms of a potential overdose.

“In addition to our non-negotiable safety protocols aimed at avoiding injuries all together, we continue to focus on educating our teams on the risks associated with opioid prescription pain medications,” said Dennis Mullen, safety director for Gilbane’s New England division. “Working to reduce the stigma of addiction and outfitting our first-aid kits with Naloxone can help keep our employees, and those tradespeople who work on our job sites alive if an overdose does occur.”

Attaining Recovery Friendly Workplace designation further solidifies Gilbane Building Company’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its employees and reduces the barriers and stigmas associated with addiction. Through proactive and holistic employment practices, such as providing information and training to promote physical and mental health, Gilbane strives to foster a company culture that provides employees experiencing addiction, whether themselves or a family member, with the necessary resources to meet their individualized needs and promote healing.

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com.

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