| MADISON, Wis. – In May 2021, the Department of Safety and Professional Services will participate in the 41st annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, its members, and partners to promote building safety. This year’s campaign, “Prevent, Prepare, Protect. Building Codes Save,” will raise awareness about the importance of building codes in ensuring safety in the spaces in which we live, work, and learn.
As we prepare ourselves for the increased severity and frequency of natural disasters, building safety is even more important. Disaster mitigation through the adoption and enforcement of building codes is one of the best ways for communities to prepare for and protect against future disasters. Homes and buildings that are built in compliance with building safety codes and the officials who enforce the codes are essential to helping communities minimize the risks of death, injury, and property damage in the event of a disaster. This year’s campaign themes are: Week One, May 1-9, Energy Innovation; Week Two, May 10-16, Training the Next Generation; Week Three, May 17-23, Water Safety and Week Four, May 25-31, Disaster Preparedness. Later this month, DSPS Secretary-designee Dawn Crim and staff inspectors will visit several projects currently under construction throughout the state. “Building safety is something most people don’t think about on a regular basis, and that is because the state and communities throughout Wisconsin enforce our building codes,” said DSPS Secretary-designee Dawn Crim. “We do the work and worrying so that the people of Wisconsin can be safe in their homes, at the office, and wherever else they go. “Building Safety Month is a great opportunity to recognize our employees and partners throughout the state who think about safe structures day in and day out. It is also a good time to talk about the importance of keeping building codes up to date. Current building codes protect lives and mitigate property damage and loss as a result of natural disasters.” With an extensive history dating back to 2200 B.C and the Code of the Hammurabi, king of the Babylonian Empire, building codes have protected the public for thousands of years. The regulation of building construction in the United States dates back to the 1700s. Wisconsin is in the process of reviewing and updating its commercial and residential building codes. Learn more about Building Safety Month at www.buildingsafetymonth.org or join the conversation on social media using #BuildingSafety365. The Department of Safety and Professional Services issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, runs the state fire prevention program, and maintains the award-winning Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, the Department of Safety and Professional Services is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With five offices and 250 employees throughout Wisconsin, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy. |
