New Trade Group Targets Construction Safety With Free Membership Tiers
The Construction Safety Organization officially launched September 21 as a national trade organization focused exclusively on construction safety and health, according to a report from Safety and Health magazine. The group, led by President Raffi Elchemmas and Consultant Brandon Anderson, describes its approach as “Workers First,” aiming to advocate on federal and state safety regulations, share best practices among contractors, and reduce injuries and fatalities. The organization notes more than 1,000 construction workers die from occupational injuries annually. Its leadership team includes two former OSHA officials: Scott Ketcham, who spent 34 years at OSHA including leading the Directorate of Construction, and Tim Irving, a former acting director of the Directorate of Construction who previously owned an electrical contracting business in Boston.
A key feature of the launch is cost: the organization is offering free and low-cost membership options for construction companies, funded by paid membership levels and partner-members, specifically to make participation accessible for smaller contractors without dedicated safety departments.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Smaller subcontractors without in-house safety staff can join at no cost, a direct option worth evaluating for firms that currently rely on general contractor safety programs alone.
- The group plans forums where contractors share what has and hasn’t worked on jobsites, potentially useful for firms in heavy civil, road, DOT, or electrical work looking for practical safety practices rather than pure compliance checklists.
- Because two leadership consultants (Ketcham and Irving) come directly from OSHA’s Directorate of Construction, the organization’s advocacy on federal and state safety rules is worth monitoring as it develops policy positions in the coming months.
