Author: Nazia Shah
Safety and health remains the foundation of every successful construction operation and this year’s AGC Annual Convention delivers a robust lineup of Safety & Health programming designed to equip attendees with practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and forward-thinking tools. A cornerstone of the Convention is the Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA) program, sponsored by WTW | Willis and Starr. Throughout the event, members can observe the judging process and hear directly from top-performing contractors as they present their award-winning safety and health programs. These presentations offer a valuable opportunity to learn what the industry’s “best of the best” are doing to…
Confined spaces. Falls from height. Electrical work. Crane operations. Excavations. Some construction activities carry inherently higher risks, and managing safety on these projects requires specialized knowledge beyond basic OSHA compliance. AGC’s Focused Topics in Construction (FTC) provides four intensive days of training on managing and mitigating risks associated with construction’s most dangerous operations. Here’s what you’ll learn: Who should attend? Safety managers, project managers, and safety professionals responsible for high-risk construction operations. Complete all four Construction Safety Management Courses to earn your certificate and demonstrate your commitment to safety excellence. I WANT TO BE A LEADER IN SAFETY Contact Nazia…
Join us on March 4, 2 PM – 3 PM Eastern for the next virtual quarterly town hall. This session will focus on work zone safety, ahead of National Work Zone Awareness Week – April 20-24. Learn More and Register The purpose of AGC’s Safety & Health Town Halls is to communicate key safety and health issues and challenges, as well as discuss enforcement, regulatory, and outreach activities at the national and local levels. Looking Ahead – 2026 AGC Safety & Health Town Hall Schedule Contact Nazia Shah for more information.
As part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s efforts to keep stakeholders informed of its activities, below is a summary of key national initiatives and agency priorities, as well as a calendar of upcoming events for FY 2026. Please note – as we receive new/updated information about events, we will share it with you. I. National Initiatives OSHA will support the following national outreach initiatives in FY 2026: OSHA’s ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign raises awareness of the danger of falls in construction and other industries. The annual National Safety Stand Down encourages employers to set aside time during the week…
OSHA has issued new guidance clarifying that injuries involving personal rechargeable lithium-ion batteries contained within e-cigarettes are generally recordable if they occur in the workplace and meet OSHA’s injury and illness recording criteria. In a January 20, 2026 letter of interpretation, followed by a February 9, 2026 trade release, OSHA explained that a battery fire or thermal event occurring during assigned work hours is presumed work-related, even if the battery is personally owned or brought from home. OSHA further clarified that employee fault or unsafe personal behavior does not affect recordability, and none of the standard work-relatedness exceptions apply. If…
On January 14, during AGC’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum, representatives from the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), Construction Suicide Prevention Week (CSPW), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Hard Hat Courage program, and the National Safety Council (NSC) Workplace Wellbeing Hub shared practical mental health and suicide prevention strategies tailored to the construction workforce. Participants also learned how to leverage national tools, campaigns, and partnerships to strengthen existing efforts or launch new initiatives that improve psychological safety and wellbeing across jobsites and organizations. Access slides and recording. The AGC Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum…
AGC of America is still accepting speaking proposals for the Summer 2026 Construction Safety & Health Conference taking place July 22-24 in Minneapolis, MN. The proposal deadline has been extended to February 6. This event is designed for emerging to senior-level management professionals who work in any of the commercial construction markets. All educational sessions should be targeted towards these attendees and should involve topics that reflect current and emerging issues in construction safety and health. We invite you to share your knowledge and help us shape the Summer 2026 experience. For more information and to submit a proposal, please refer to the event guidelines. Proposals should…
The Winter 2026 AGC Construction Safety & Health Conference delivered a powerful blend of executive leadership, practical skill-building, and peer-driven learning focused on the real challenges facing today’s construction safety and health professionals. Attendees engaged in timely discussions on OSHA and federal policy updates, AI and emerging technologies, heat stress and worker wellbeing, work zone and crane safety, ethics, visual literacy, and Total Worker Health, while hands-on workshops and roundtables fostered candid peer exchange and practical problem-solving. Attendees left with actionable strategies, fresh perspectives, and renewed energy to advance safety, health, and leadership within their organizations. Save the date for…
On January 8, AGC staff met with the new Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), David Keeling, and staff members of the Department of Labor (DOL). Mr. Keeling was confirmed on October 3, 2025, to the post. He brings 37 years of safety and health experience to the agency, mostly with the United Parcel Service (UPS). AGC used the meeting as an opportunity to highlight our longstanding partnership with OSHA, while also discussing key policy and program initiatives. Both sides shared the importance of engaging with the regulated community through OSHA Cooperative Programs as a…
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is taking a significant step forward in workplace safety by releasing its 2023 injury and illness data using standardized codes. For the first time, OSHA applied the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System to the narrative fields in Forms 300 and 301, enabling more consistent capture of how incidents occurred and what caused them. These codes allow OSHA to better organize and analyze similar cases, making it easier to identify industry trends and emerging risk patterns. By strengthening the clarity and usability of injury and illness narratives, OSHA is improving the foundation for…