12 Safety Organizations for the Construction Industry

With the high risk of fatal incidents and worker injuries in construction, prioritizing jobsite safety is crucial. According to the National Safety Council, the construction industry experienced the highest number of preventable fatal injuries out of all industries in 2021. 

Construction safety organizations offer industry workers training, certifications, and resources to help avoid hazards and accidents on jobsites. Beyond reducing accidents and injuries on the jobsite, membership in a safety organization may give contractors a leg up during the prequalification process. Some states or project owners require construction companies to hold certain safety certifications in order to participate in the bidding process. 

Below is a list of 12 safety organizations that offer training, resources, and certification opportunities to construction businesses and their employees. 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Created in 1971 to ensure safe working conditions for workers, OSHA enforces safety standards and provides training, outreach, and assistance to the private and public labor sectors across the U.S. 

OSHA’s focus on construction industry safety offers regulation information and resources on guidance, outreach, and special initiatives. The administration also established the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) as an advisory board that provides advice and assistance in construction standards and policy matters. 

OSHA’s Focus Four outreach training program provides a framework of lessons, guides, and assessments to prevent the most common construction site hazards and injuries. Several organizations and companies industry-wide implement OSHA’s Focus Four into safety programs and training offered to construction workers. 

OSHA has developed specific safety resources for demolition, electrical, residential, and women working in construction. 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

The OSH Act of 1970 established NIOSH — part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — as a research agency focused on worker health and safety. The organization offers a construction program geared toward helping construction companies create safer working environments. In 2012, NIOSH’s construction program established an ongoing national campaign to prevent falls in construction. 

NIOSH also collaborates with industry partners, trade associations, academia, and other organization to prioritize construction worker health and safety in the following areas: 

• Preventing harmful noise exposure
• Reducing occupational exoskeleton disorders
• Reducing occupational respiratory diseases due to exposure to onsite hazards such as mineral dust or fumes
• Reducing traumatic injuries due to falls, struck-by incidents or substance abuse

American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)

Established in 1911, the American Society of Safety Professionals — formerly known as the American Society of Safety Engineers — has 36,000 members in 80 countries across the globe. Although the ASSP has a general focus on safety for occupational safety and health professionals, its Construction Practice Specialty provides access to resources and experts specific to the construction industry.

The ASSP offers professional development opportunities, mentorships, and industry certifications, including: 

• Risk management
• Safety management
• Leadership in safety management
• Global safety management 

The organization also offers a range of memberships for students pursuing safety-related undergraduate or graduate degrees, professional memberships for certified safety professionals with specific designations, and retired safety professionals seeking to stay connected to the industry. 

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Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)

Established in 1918, the Associated General Contractors of America is one of the most well-known organizations in the industry. The AGC represents more than 6,500 general contractors and 9,000 specialty contractor firms across the U.S. 

Each year, the AGC offers a safety management training course that covers foundational skills needed to effectively manage a safety program. The organization also offers advanced safety management courses for safety professionals seeking to manage all aspects of health and safety at their company from field safety to insurance claims and legal matters.  

AGC also provides additional resources for contractors, including:

• Mental health and suicide prevention
• Highway worker safety training program
• Resources for crane operator certification programs
• Study on construction fatalities 
• Fall prevention safety training  

Association of Construction Safety Professionals (ACSP)

Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, the Association of Construction Safety Professionals offers both onsite and online safety training opportunities. According to the organization, their instructors are OSHA Authorized Outreach trainers for the construction industry. The ASCP’s 30-hour training program provides training for identifying and preventing health and safety hazards, how to file a complaint, and information on workers’ rights and employer responsibilities. 

The program’s courses include:

• EM 385-1-1 training for Site Safety Health Officers
• Fall protection training
• Confined space entry and rescue training
• First aid and CPR training
• Competent person scaffold training

Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR)

Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Center for Construction Research and Training aims to reduce onsite illnesses, injuries, and fatalities in the construction industry. The organization was created by North America's Building Trade Unions (NABTU) and offers training for various construction-related professions, including project owners, contractors, and health and safety professionals.

CPWR’s training program includes: 

• Hazardous Waste
• DOE Hazardous Waste – This program is specific to training construction workers on DOE sites to protect themselves and their communities from exposure to hazardous materials.  
• Disaster Response 
• Environmental Career Worker Training – This program offers economically disadvantaged workers pre-apprenticeship and life skills training for the environmental and construction cleanup industries. 

Council for Dredging and Marine Construction Safety (CDMCS)

CDMCS supports U.S. maritime workers by promoting a safety-first culture for the dredging and marine construction industry. Based in Washington, D.C., the Council for Dredging and Marine Construction Safety unites contractors and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and provides resources to help prevent safety incidents and hazards on the jobsite.

Members meet quarterly and have access to CDMCS’ Pipeline Taskforce which offers safety guidelines for pipeline safety. The organization also provides toolbox topics, safety videos, documents, and a list of product recalls to help keep workers informed.

Coalition for Construction Safety (CCS)

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Coalition for Construction Safety focuses on preventing jobsite injuries and illnesses, specifically surrounding construction and facilities maintenance. The organization was founded in 1992 by construction workers aiming to improve safety conditions in central Indiana. 

CCS offers a range of memberships for facility owners, contractors, design professionals, and residential builders. Member resources vary depending on the job title but include educational events, networking opportunities, and opportunities to set industry safety and expectation standards. 

In addition, the Coalition for Construction Safety offers a certification program that provides safety program reviews for owners and contractors to “safety prequalify” their subcontractors. 

American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC)

The American Society of Concrete Contractors was established in 1964 as an organization dedicated to unifying concrete contractors in the industry. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, the ASCC represents 750 concrete and general contracting companies globally. 

The ASCC’s Safety and Risk Management Council offers a Safety Training Assessment and Recognition (S.T.A.R.) program that helps companies establish and improve their own safety programs. S.T.A.R. provides key performance indicators for companies, along with a roadmap of different policies and initiatives that can be incorporated into their own safety programs. 

Additionally, the ASCC offers its members access to sample JHAs, near-miss sample reports, site-specific safety plans, and sample subcontractor prequalification forms that can help improve safety processes on job sites. 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

The National Fire Protection Association, established in 1896, offers a wide range of safety resources for the construction industry, and other sectors. The organization aims to help construction workers identify fire and electrical hazards to prevent damages and worker injury on job sites. 

NFPA’s five-hour Fire Prevention Program Manager Training offers construction professionals fundamental knowledge on developing a plan for fire protection and safety, including how to reference and apply specific codes and standards. Completion of the course grants participants 0.5 continuing education units (CEU) and an NFPA Gold Badge. 

Additionally, the NFPA provides fire safety toolkits that include updated requirements for protecting construction sites where hot work, underground construction, or demolition are performed, and from potential fire dangers and burns. 

National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)

The National Center for Construction Education and Research was created in 1996 as a training and credentialing program for the construction industry. The organization covers training and education across more than 70 craft and maintenance areas in the construction sector and has a registry system that permits companies to track the qualifications and credentials of contractors and potential new hires. 

According to NCCER, the organization’s Construction Site Safety Program offers contractors and owners access to trainings to assist safety supervisors identify and handle site-specific hazards. The program also helps prepare safety personnel for certifications offered by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, including the Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) and Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC) certifications. 

The organization also offers safety courses for fall protection, field safety, and safety technology.  

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)

Associated Builders and Contractors represents more than 22,000 members across all specialties within the construction industry in the U.S. The group was founded in 1950, and offers members safety training, access to emergency preparedness and safety resources, and its STEP safety management system that aims to improve safety performance for construction companies.

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