Building Safety Month 2020

Community Event
Building Safety Month is an international campaign celebrated in May to raise awareness about building safety.
Building Safety Month 2020 Back to Basics Retro Look
Terry Whitehill Introduces Building Safety Month 2020

Why Building Safety Month?

Safer Buildings, Safer Communities, Safer World. The goal of Building Safety Month is to promote awareness of building safety. Building safety is the protection of people from danger, risk, or injury when interacting with buildings. Building codes reduce life safety risks and property damage. By applying building codes during planning and construction, we can make our community more resilient. Join us to learn about what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures where we live, work and play.

How to Participate:

Follow us on our social media channels listed below and use the hashtag #BuildingSafetyPDX

Each week we'll be posting educational content based on the following themes:

Week 1: Introduction to Building Safety

We're going back to the basics and learning about building codes and building permits and how they work to protect lives. 

Week 2: Water Safety

Making smarter decisions about water safety and conservation.

Week 3: Disaster Preparedness

This year we'll be focusing on seismic (earthquake) preparedness. We'll be collaborating with local Portland experts.

Week 4: Building Safety Careers

Highlighting the Bureau of Development Services staff to inspire the next generation of building safety professionals.

"As a Permit Technician, I'm a generalist. I know a little bit about what each of the 20 or so different review groups that we have involved in the building permit process, what they care about." -Elliot Akwai-Scott, former Permit Tech. He's since been promoted!

For more videos on BDS career spotlights, check out our social media sites and search using the hashtag #BuildingSafetyPDX.

Learn about John Cooley, BDS Life Safety Plans Examiner, was awarded the U.S. Resiliency Council Silver rating for his work on a seismically retrofitted 111-year-old building. 

References

International Code Council (ICC): https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/building-safety-month/2020-building-safety-month/