Construction Safety Week just wrapped up (May 5-9), and this year's themes offered practical tips that any construction team can implement, especially those working in data center construction. But first, let's take a step back–what exactly is Construction Safety Week?
What Is Construction Safety Week?
Starting in 2014, Construction Safety Week brings together more than 70 national and global construction firms with a unified mission: to inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. It's a powerful demonstration that we are stronger and safer together.
While the event lasts just one week, its impact extends throughout the year by:
- Celebrating workers and organizations committed to injury-free job sites
- Increasing awareness of safety as a daily commitment
- Encouraging the sharing of best practices across the industry
- Providing essential safety resources and education
Working day in and day out on data center construction sites, we know firsthand that these safety principles are critical. Let's look at the practical tips from this year's themes that we apply on data center job sites every day.
Plan with Precision
The week kicked off focusing on thorough planning before work begins:
- Start planning early to give yourself time to identify risks and develop controls
- Use detailed scheduling to spot high-risk activities before they begin
- Make safety planning collaborative–involve trade partners, workers, and safety experts
- Apply the hierarchy of risk control when addressing identified hazards
For data center construction specifically, planning takes on added importance when coordinating electrical installations, cooling systems, and fiber optic cabling—all of which present unique safety considerations. Planning is your first safety tool on any project, especially in the complex environment of data center construction.
Identify High Energy Hazards
Tuesday highlighted the importance of recognizing and controlling serious hazards:
- Focus on identifying the "Stuff That Could Kill You" (STCKY) present on your site
- Remember that safety isn't just the absence of incidents, but the presence of effective controls
- Take time to verify that high-energy hazards are properly controlled before work begins
- Ensure that all team members can recognize the most serious risks in their work areas
Taking extra time to address these high-consequence hazards can prevent the most severe accidents.
Own Your Part
Wednesday's theme emphasized personal accountability in safety:
- Every team member has a responsibility to identify risks and take corrective actions
- Communication is essential—speak up when you see something concerning
- Leaders should maintain a strong presence in the field to reinforce safety expectations
- Preparation before tasks helps everyone understand their safety responsibilities
When everyone owns their part in the safety process, the entire site becomes safer.
Engage and Empower Team Members
Thursday focused on creating an environment where workers are actively involved in safety:
- Empower workers to identify hazards, communicate concerns, and suggest improvements
- Foster open communication where safety concerns are welcomed, not discouraged
- Recognize and appreciate safety efforts to reinforce positive behaviors
- Provide ongoing training and development to build safety knowledge
Engagement isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s essential for an effective safety program, particularly in technology-intensive construction like data centers where requirements and best practices evolve rapidly.
Commit to Excellence
The week closed by connecting safety to overall excellence:
- Construction is the ultimate team sport—everyone's performance affects the outcome
- Every worker is a "starter" on the team, crucial to both safety and project success
- Show up prepared, follow the plan, work safely, and support teammates
- Commit to excellence in every task, no matter how routine
Meet Align's Dedicated Safety Team
Behind every successful safety program is a team of committed professionals who champion safety excellence every day. Align's safety team brings decades of combined experience to ensure our projects exceed industry safety standards.
Led by Align’s Safety Director, Sonny Alborno, our team includes professionals who work hand-in-hand with our project teams to implement proactive safety measures specifically tailored to data center environments.
Our safety professionals provide:
- Continuous training on data center-specific hazards including electrical safety, cooling system risks, and confined space protocols
- Regular safety audits and improvement recommendations for white space construction
- Development of project-specific safety plans that account for the unique challenges of working in operational data centers
- Immediate response and support for any safety concerns
- Implementation of industry best practices for technology infrastructure construction
Build with Confidence
Align delivers complex data center projects with safety built into every step. Our experienced team reduces risk, protects schedules, and ensures quality from day one.
Let’s connect to make your next project safer and more successful. Reach out to our Data Center team today!
