The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama and its partners opened the Fall Protection Institute of Alabama this week.
Currently, construction companies in the state send employees to Austin, Texas, for training and certification.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report, the construction industry reported 1,075 fatalities in 2023. In that year, slips, trips and falls accounted for more than 39% of all construction fatalities, making them the leading cause of death on job sites.
“ABC of Alabama made a conscious decision to put safety in our strategic plan, and now we’ve made a conscious decision to ensure that we are effectively addressing the leading cause of fatality in our industry, workplace falls,” said Tim Harrison, chairman of the board of ABC of Alabama.
ABC of Alabama and the Academy of Craft Training partnered with 3M Fall Protection and BL Harbert International to develop the hands-on training environment that takes fall safety beyond the classroom and into a simulated workplace setting.
The institute includes a training tower that replicates job site conditions and allows students and professionals to earn industry-recognized fall protection certifications.
For the first time in the organization’s history, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama was awarded the Strategic Plan Chapter Performance Award for 2024-2029 at ABC National’s annual convention, primarily due to its comprehensive approach to worker safety. ABC of Alabama represents the state’s merit-shop construction industry, which creates 200,000 jobs.
