Construction Safety Week kicks off Monday

Dive Brief:

• Construction Safety Week, the annual, weeklong campaign to raise awareness of the industry’s commitment to a safe workplace, begins May 1 across jobsites in the U.S. and Canada.
• This year’s theme — “Strong Voices, Safe Choices” — advocates for everyone in the workplace to feel empowered and confident in speaking up when they see potential safety hazards.
• 2023 Safety Week members include Hensel Phelps, Mortenson, Gilbane, Granite, Suffolk and Fluor, among various other construction firms. A full list of members can be found on Construction Safety Week’s website.

Dive Insight:

Construction Safety Week provides daily topics for companies to plan activities, conversations and demonstrations throughout the week.

Events this year include discussions around engagement, risk identification, brain health, continued education and action. Fundamental to these topics include conversations around two key components of safety: mental wellness in the industry and encouraging the switch from traditional hard hats to safety helmets, according to the release.

“Safety in the industry is our top priority. Our goal is to provide the tools and resources for individuals and companies to continue making all jobsites safer,” said Mike Burke, 2023 Safety Week chair and chief operating officer at Alberici, a St. Louis-based construction engineering firm. “We encourage those making a commitment to safety during the campaign to commit to a higher safety standard throughout the year.”

Ahead of the Safety Week kickoff on May 1, workers and companies across the construction industry are encouraged to take a safety pledge between now and May 4. The pledge reinforces their commitment to support and build a strong safety culture.