Simulated Construction Catastrophe on UA Campus Emphasizes Safety

Local agencies and construction professionals gathered on the University of Alabama campus earlier this month to simulate a structure collapse - one of the worst-case scenarios in the industry.

Organizers said that by experiencing an exercise designed to mimic a real-life emergency, everyone involved will be better prepared to prevent a collapse or potentially respond to one.

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The May 15th drill was put together by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alabama and Harrison Construction in cooperation with UA and other agencies. Tim Harrison serves as both the President of the construction company and chairman of the ABC Board.

“Safety is paramount in Harrison Construction’s approach to every project. Our employees’ families deserve their loved ones’ home each night, both physically and mentally, the same way they left the morning before,” Harrison said. “This event brings together numerous entities engaged in preventing accidents and promoting safety awareness in our industry. These types of exercises make our employees, subs, owners, and vendors safer.”

The ABC shared statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report, which said there were more than 1,000 fatalities within the construction industry in 2023 alone.

By exercising for a mass casualty construction accident, complete with actors playing injured workers and buzzing news reporters, organizers hope everyone involved will now be more committed to preventing them and better prepared to respond to one if that's ever necessary.

The drill was as life-like as possible, with a simulated gas line releasing compressed air and water spraying from severed pipes in the "structure," where four-inch-thick foam stood made for a convincing collapsed concrete floor.

“It is our duty to be front and center at events like this," said ABC of Alabama President Jay Reed. "Ensuring that construction workers get home to their families every night is the most important thing we do. I greatly appreciate this collaboration with the University of Alabama, Harrison Construction, and our local emergency response partners."

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