Each year, Construction Safety Week offers the construction industry an opportunity to pause and refocus on the most important goal: ensuring every worker returns home safely. Mike Spensieri, who leads jobsite safety initiatives at Milwaukee Tool, shared observations from the field about how safety engagement is evolving—and where it needs to go next.
BROADENING THE CONVERSATION AROUND SAFETY
Spensieri’s work spans personal protective equipment and safer tool usage practices. Throughout the year, his team works with contractors and safety directors to support jobsite safety programs across the country.
“During Safety Week, we focus more directly on tradespeople themselves,” he explained. “We meet crews where they are—from small sites to megaprojects—and talk about real-world practices: everything from ergonomic tool use to OSHA dust regulations.”
This direct engagement is not limited to a single week. Each year, Milwaukee Tool facilitates more than 10,000 safety training sessions, reaching over 150,000 workers across the U.S. The goal of every session is the same: equipping workers with practical knowledge to help prevent injuries.
WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH SAFETY DIRECTORS
While most of Spensieri’s work typically involves supporting safety directors, Construction Safety Week allows a more direct line to workers.
Ahead of a training event, safety directors often request a focus on specific risks—such as laceration prevention or dust mitigation. “We work with the leadership on the ground, set up demonstrations and run live education sessions that usually last about 30 to 40 minutes,” Spensieri said.
Rather than relying on slide decks or formal presentations, sessions are hands-on and conversational, centered on real-world usage of tools and PPE.
PERSISTENT RISKS ON JOBSITES
Two risks continue to show up consistently across the industry: slips, trips and falls (particularly those occurring from heights below six feet), and hand lacerations.
Spensieri emphasized that even minor falls can cause serious injuries—and head protection remains a critical issue. “A helmet that stays in place can make the difference in the event of a fall,” he noted.
Hand injuries also remain common, highlighting the need for proper glove selection based on the task. “The best PPE is the PPE that is worn—and worn correctly,” he added.
WHY HANDS-ON TRAINING MATTERS
In today’s construction environment, where crews often include a mix of veteran workers and newer entrants to the industry, hands-on training plays a crucial role.
“Different people learn in different ways—some are visual, some are hands-on,” Spensieri said. Demonstrating safety techniques live, with the tools workers use daily, helps reinforce best practices in a way that written materials alone cannot.
Safety directors report that having a third party reinforce their messages can make a significant difference in how seriously workers take them.
INNOVATIONS MAKING AN IMPACT
Across the industry, new safety technologies are helping address longstanding risks. Spensieri pointed to several examples where improvements are reducing injuries:
- Type 2 Helmets with Chin Straps: Designed to stay secure during falls, offering better protection
- Dual-Trigger and Dual-Handle Tools: Keeping both hands engaged and reducing exposure to cut hazards
- Helmet-Integrated Eye Protection: Simplifying PPE compliance by integrating visors into head protection systems
Real-world outcomes reinforce the importance of such innovations. Spensieri shared a recent incident where a worker credited a helmet with preventing serious injury during a vehicle-related accident on a roadside jobsite.
ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ON THE JOBSITE
One area that Spensieri believes still needs more visibility is mental health.
“In this industry, toughness is expected—but that can make it harder for workers to ask for help,” he explained. Construction ranks among the highest industries for suicide rates, a reality the industry is increasingly acknowledging.
Spensieri noted that in recent years, it has become more acceptable—and encouraged—to talk about mental health during Safety Week and beyond. Safety training events now often include information about employee assistance programs and available resources.
A SHARED COMMITMENT TO SAFER JOBSITES
Reflecting on his work, Spensieri emphasized that safety is one of the few areas where there’s true collaboration across the construction industry.
“There’s no ego in safety—everyone is trying to achieve the same outcome,” he said. “It’s rewarding to be part of something larger than yourself, where the work we’re doing has a direct impact on people’s lives.”
As the construction industry continues to evolve, Spensieri sees education, innovation and open conversation—with tradespeople at the center—as key to advancing jobsite safety for everyone.
SEE ALSO: TECHNOLOGY, CONTRACTS AND JOBSITE SAFETY
