Time:
04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Date:
9 October 2025

Construction Industry Safety and Workplace Challenges

State of the Industry

Construction contributes significantly to the U.S. and world economies. Approximately 4% to the U.S. GDP and 7% of the Global GDP comes from construction. In the U.S., construction represents 8% of the employment (7.8 million people).
In 2023, 1,075 construction workers lost their lives on the job. Suicide deaths for construction workers were over 6,000 (~five times the ‘on the job’ deaths). Civil Engineers have an obligation per our Code of Ethics to advance the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Civil Engineers have a ‘Call to Action’ to improve the safety & health of the construction industry.
• How do we lead and dramatically improve construction industry safety and health?
• How do we create and sustain a safety culture in the design and construction industry?
• Are we considering construction and maintenance safety in the design of our projects?
• How do we dramatically improve mental health and reduce suicides?
o Preventative actions
o Sources of professional help
• How do we more effectively share lessons learned and best practices?
• How can a designer improve safety?

This panel of senior leaders and industry practitioners will share experiences on construction safety and how we as Civil Engineers can significantly improve the health, safety, and welfare of the construction industry.