From the Desk of Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director | | | New $2 Million Challenge to End Electrocutions | | |
Our partners at McElhattan Foundation have announced an exciting challenge: the Zero Electrocution Challenge invites ground-breaking proposals to end fatal workplace electrocutions.
The Zero Electrocution Challenge is the inaugural challenge of ZERO 2050, a recurring national competition to end workplace fatalities. Managed by McElhattan Foundation, the Zero Electrocution Challenge is seeking breakthrough solutions that eliminate life-threatening tasks that lead to fatal electrocution on the job.
Strong proposals for the Zero Electrocution Challenge should be effective, game-changing, feasible, and scalable. Two winners will each receive up to $1 million.
To learn more and register, visit the Zero Electrocution Challenge website and review the readiness tool to determine eligibility. To participate, register no later than Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Email [email protected] with any questions.
| | New Data Bulletin Focuses on Small Establishments | | |
Almost 6 million U.S. construction workers work at small establishments: 2.7 million at firms with fewer than 20 employees, and another 2.9 million at nonemployer establishments (independent contractors). The April issue of CPWR’s Data Bulletin examines small establishments, including their numbers, employment totals, injury statistics, and training practices. Among the key findings: workers at firms with 1 to 10 employees were twice as likely to suffer a fatal injury on the job than those at firms with 1,000 or more employees. For more on payroll and nonemployer establishments, visit our interactive Data Dashboards, which have just been updated to include 2023 data, the latest available.
| | TOOLS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH | | |
Take Part in This Spring’s Safety Stand-Downs
The 2026 National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents will again take place during National Work Zone Awareness Week, which this year runs April 20-24. Pause work on your jobsite(s) to conduct training, revisit your struck-by prevention planning process, or watch one of our recorded webinars. Learn more about the event and how to participate from last month's webinar, Getting Ready for the 2026 National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents in Construction. We will be hosting another Struck-by Stand-Down webinar on Monday the 20th focused on the Use of Positive Protection Devices for Work Zone Safety.
The 13th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction will take place May 4-8. As the Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries dashboard in the Construction Chart Book shows, falls remain the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities for construction workers. With the support of our fellow organizers, Premier Partners, and many long-time Falls Campaign supporters, CPWR is continues to add new resources to StopConstructionFalls.com. In addition to the many recorded webinars already available on-demand, we are hosting four new webinars as part of this year’s event, all of which will include live Spanish interpretation on a separate audio channel. Also, don’t forget to order 2026 Stand-Down stickers and fall-related Hazard Alert Cards while supplies last!
Latest Safety Management in the Construction Industry Survey Results Available
The new Safety Management in the Construction Industry 2026 SmartMarket Report finds that small contractors are improving safety but gaps remain in preconstruction planning, use of technology, and mental health support. Developed by the Dodge Construction Network in partnership with CPWR with funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the report examined safety planning, heat illness prevention, mental health and wellbeing, training and communication, and technology use. Compared to 2023, contractors with fewer than 20 employees reported higher use of online safety training, offering employee assistance programs, and implementing multiple methods to assess and mitigate heat exposure. The survey, which has been conducted since 2012, also found that 72% of contractors working in a state with heat standards say having to comply with a state standard has improved heat illness protection on their jobsites.
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CPWR Reopens Small Study Program
We are excited to again invite researchers to submit letters of intent to conduct research under our Small Study Program. Since 1993, it has provided 146 research teams with up to $30,000 and the flexibility to initiate short-term studies that:
- Investigate potential risks from emerging hazards and industry changes.
- Explore new approaches for addressing persistent hazards.
- Create and test promising interventions to improve worker health and safety.
- Accelerate research on emerging and persistent safety and health issues.
The program is particularly interested in projects that reach high-risk groups, including small employers, and develop interventions that can be immediately applied on the job. Support for the Small Studies program comes through CPWR’s cooperative agreement with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and, for the first time, private sector funding, which is provided by a charitable contribution from McElhattan Foundation. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn more from the Small Studies webpage.
Impact of Secondary Prevention on Mortality in the Building Trades National Medical Screening Program: Effectiveness of Occupational High-Risk Management. Knut Ringen, John Dement, Marianne Cloeren, Sammy Almashat, William Grier, Stella Hines, Laura Welch, Kim Cranford, Scott Haas, Anna Chen, Patricia Quinn, Miles Fisher. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2026. Read the full paper and the Key Finding.
Is Work-Related Hearing Loss Associated With Dementia? Evidence From a High-Risk Population. Marianne Cloeren, John Dement, Jane Quackenbush, Knut Ringen, Patricia Quinn. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2025. Read the full paper and the Key Finding.
Contribute Your Knowledge to CPWR’s Heat Protection Project
To help capture the expertise of as many people in the field as possible, CPWR’s survey of what works to protect workers from heat illness is now available in Spanish. Share your knowledge through the survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. You can also support this research by hosting researchers at your site, which will build knowledge that leads to stronger protections for construction workers. Learn how to participate from this flyer -- in English, Spanish, or both languages.
Share Your Experiences with Occupational Exposure to Forever Chemicals
A CPWR-supported research team at University of Massachusetts Lowell is examining the impact of hazardous chemical exposures -- in particular, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” -- on the health of painters and allied trades workers. As part of this study, the researchers are surveying workers on their activities, jobsite chemical exposures, and health conditions, and they are looking for volunteers to take their survey. Responding should take 20-30 minutes, and individual information will be kept confidential and will not be identified in any reports, presentations, and publications.
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Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Showcase of New Resources to Prevent Falls from Premier Partners
Join the 2026 Falls Campaign Premier Partners to learn about new resources they have developed to support the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. Premier Partners are leading organizations that commit to take additional steps to advance the reach and impact of the Falls Campaign, including creating a new falls resource each year. In this webinar, a highlighted group of partners will present their new resources and share how you can use these tools for your upcoming Stand-Down event in May.
Panelists:
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Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR
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Brian A. Rizzo, Acting Director, Directorate of Construction, OSHA
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Donald Peterson, PhD, Director, Division of Safety Research; NIOSH
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Representatives from our Premier Partners, including Liberty Mutual, LiUNA, the National Roofing Contractors Association, Werner Ladder, and the organizers of Construction Safety Week
Click here to register and submit a question in advance
Monday, April 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET (1 hour)
Use of Positive Protection Devices for Work Zone Safety
As part of the 2026 National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents in Construction, CPWR and ARTBA are hosting a webinar focused on the use of positive protection to keep workers safe in roadway construction work zones. The webinar will start with an overview of recent changes to the Federal Highway Administration’s Work Zone Safety and Mobility rule, which dictates when positive protection devices must be used or considered. Attendees will then hear from our panel on the practical application of this rule, plans for its implementation, and types of positive protection companies may want to consider using.
Panelists:
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Brad Sant, Esq., Senior Vice President, Safety and Education, American Road & Transportation Builders Association
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Ryan Papariello, GSP, Safety and Health Specialist, Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA)
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Christina Bennett, PE, Construction & Maintenance Engineer, South Dakota Department of Transportation
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Laura Huizinga, Senior Business Development Manager, Lindsay Corporation
Click here to register and submit a question in advance
Monday, May 4 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Kick-Off the 2026 Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction!
Start your National Safety Stand-Down week (May 4-8) by joining OSHA and CPWR for an official launch event. This webinar will feature a case study of a real fall incident, provide an overview of the most up-to-date available data on trends in falls in construction, and highlight the extensive library of free resources available from the National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction. It will also offer attendees the opportunity to ask questions and make recommendations to campaign leaders.
Panelists:
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Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR
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Brian A. Rizzo, Acting Director, Directorate of Construction, OSHA
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Donald Peterson, PhD, Director, Division of Safety Research; NIOSH
Click here to register and submit a question in advance
Tuesday, May 5 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Fall Prevention Through Design
By thinking about safety during the building design process and when designing the jobsite and work itself, hazards and risks can be minimized before the work ever begins. On this webinar, attendees will learn more about how project owners and contractors anticipate and “design out” fall-related hazards in buildings, work methods, processes, equipment, tools, and the overall organization of the work.
Panelists:
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Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR
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Brian A. Rizzo, Acting Director, Directorate of Construction, OSHA
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Donald Peterson, PhD, Director, Division of Safety Research; NIOSH
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Bob Moser, PE, CSP, Senior Director, Safety Engineering, Jacobs
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Ian Umstead, MS, CSP, CHST, Safety Manager, DPR Construction
Click here to register and submit a question in advance
Friday, May 8 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Top Three Things to Know About Working on Roofs
Join roofing safety experts to learn about key training priorities for workers who work on roofs. Panelists will provide an overview of information on falls from and through roofs, describe the recommended breadth of fall prevention training, and then focus on three top training priorities. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask technical questions about roofing safety and training.
Panelists:
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Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR
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Brian A. Rizzo, Acting Director, Directorate of Construction, OSHA
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Donald Peterson, PhD, Director, Division of Safety Research; NIOSH
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Joel Gonzalez, Trust Fund Field Director, Roofers & Waterproofers Research and Education Joint Trust Fund
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Matt Wittenborn, Instructor, Roofers & Waterproofers Research and Education Joint Trust Fund
Click here to register and submit a question in advance
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