Join ABC Carolinas on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm for the Construction Health Safety Summit, a full-day program designed to deliver timely, practical insight on the challenge of addressing the many aspects of safety facing construction in 2026, including jobsite safety, mental health, technology, and more. This event is designed for construction executives, safety professionals, and field leaders seeking actionable strategies to address evolving safety challenges in 2026. The Construction Health Safety Summit is the region’s premier gathering for those who want to stay ahead of regulatory changes, implement best practices, and foster a culture of safety and well-being on their job sites.
Construction health and safety refers to the policies, procedures, and practices that protect workers from injury, illness, and hazards on construction sites. In the broader construction industry, maintaining high standards of health and safety is essential not only for compliance but also for productivity, worker morale, and business reputation. The Summit serves as a bridge between the latest industry standards and the day-to-day realities faced by construction professionals in the Carolinas.
ABC Carolinas is the regional chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, a national construction industry trade association dedicated to advancing the merit shop philosophy and supporting the success of its members through advocacy, education, and networking.
The day begins with registration, a vendor showcase, and breakfast, followed by a welcome from ABC Carolinas leadership, board representatives, and the title sponsor.
Construction in the Carolinas is surging. Infrastructure investments, industrial expansion, and commercial development are creating more opportunities than the region has seen in years. With that growth comes complexity: larger projects, tighter timelines, multi-employer worksites, and an evolving workforce that demands better from employers. Every new project that breaks ground adds both potential and risk.
Owners, insurers, and regulators have sharpened their expectations. Compliance with OSHA is no longer enough—clients want to see systematic safety programs, documented training, and clear evidence that contractors take worker protection seriously. Insurance underwriters scrutinize safety performance before pricing coverage. Regulators are watching leading indicators, not just injury rates. Companies that rely on reactive safety programs or outdated practices are falling behind their peers and losing work.
The ABC Carolinas Safety and Health Summit exists to align leaders around a shared, proactive safety culture. The goal is straightforward: reduce incidents, protect mental health, and drive productivity on jobsites across North Carolina and South Carolina. Safety must be ingrained as a core value within every organization, not just a priority, and should be reflected in the company’s culture and daily operations. Emphasizing the value of prioritizing safety leads to both organizational success and improved worker well-being.
This isn’t about sitting through lectures. It’s about walking away with strategies that work on real projects, delivered by people who have implemented them in the field. Unlike generic conferences, this Summit is explicitly tailored to construction in the Carolinas. Expect local case studies, regional regulatory updates, and discussions grounded in the realities of building in this market. When speakers talk about what works, they’re talking about what works here.
With this context in mind, let’s explore the event’s structure and what you can expect throughout the day.
The ABC Carolinas Safety and Health Summit will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026. Programming runs approximately from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, giving attendees a full day of focused learning and networking. The summit is carefully planned to address current and emerging safety issues, with an agenda, speakers, and objectives designed to promote a strong safety culture within the construction industry.
The vendor showcase and networking sessions feature a wide range of services offered by exhibitors and vendors, including educational resources, safety technology demonstrations, legal support, and other industry-related services to support subcontractors and industry professionals.
This is a one-day summit designed for maximum impact. The format balances general sessions with targeted breakouts so you can customize your experience based on your role and priorities. Expect an opening general session that frames the critical safety challenges for 2026, a keynote address from industry leadership, multiple concurrent breakout tracks throughout the day, a working lunch with structured networking, and a closing leadership panel focused on “next steps” for implementing what you’ve learned.
ABC Carolinas organizes the event and draws contractors, specialty trade firms, suppliers, service providers, and other industry leaders from across both states. Whether you’re a general contractor running major commercial projects or a specialty firm focused on electrical, mechanical, or civil work, you’ll find relevant content and peers facing similar challenges.
Registration includes full access to all sessions, networking breaks with exhibitors, and summit materials—slides, checklists, and implementation templates—that you can bring back to your teams and put to work immediately.
Next, let’s look at who will benefit most from attending the Summit.
The Summit is essential for decision-makers and influencers who are responsible for safety outcomes on jobsites and in offices. If your job touches worker protection, risk management, or operational performance, this event is built for you.
Key roles that should attend:
Both large and small contractors will benefit. Specialty trades—electrical, mechanical, concrete, steel, roofing—will find sessions tailored to high-risk operations. Suppliers and service providers who support safe job sites belong here, too. If your firm is new to ABC Carolinas, this is an ideal entry point to connect with the chapter and see firsthand what the network has to offer.
Team attendance is strongly encouraged. Bring your executive, safety director, and a superintendent together. When multiple people from your organization hear the duplicate content, you leave with a shared action plan—not just individual notes that get filed away and forgotten. Attending as a team also gives you the chance to benefit from peers’ and industry experts’ expertise, collaborating to enhance your safety knowledge and practices.
With a clear understanding of who should attend, let’s turn to the Summit’s featured speakers and the regulatory insight they’ll provide.
Hearing directly from regulatory and industry leadership has never been more valuable. In 2026, enforcement emphasis, recordkeeping expectations, and mental health initiatives are evolving rapidly. Understanding where regulators are focused can shape how you prioritize your own safety investments. These leaders lead the way in advancing safety and health in the construction industry, setting the standard for proactive initiatives and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Luke Farley is anticipated to participate in the Summit. Commissioner Farley oversees the state’s Occupational Safety and Health division, which enforces workplace safety and health laws across North Carolina. His perspective on enforcement priorities, partnership opportunities, and emerging risks is invaluable for any employer building in the state. Attendees will have a rare opportunity to hear directly from the top and gain clarity on what regulators expect from the construction industry going forward.
The program will also feature seasoned construction safety leaders from ABC Carolinas member companies. These are safety VPs, field operations leaders, and mental health advocates who have improved safety metrics on real jobsites in the Carolinas. They’ve navigated the challenges you face—and they’ll share what worked and what didn’t.
What you’ll gain from featured speakers:
Speakers are chosen specifically for their field-tested, practical approaches. Sessions are built around real incidents, lessons learned, and proven interventions—not academic theory.
With this expert guidance, the Summit’s core themes address the most urgent safety challenges in the Carolinas.
The 2026 Summit is organized around several core themes reflecting the most pressing safety challenges on Carolinas’ jobsites. The summit will address various aspects of safety, health, and well-being, including jobsite safety, emerging technologies, and comprehensive safety & health concepts. Attendees will also gain insights into the latest advancements in safety practices and technologies, ensuring they stay current with industry improvements. These themes connect directly to protecting workers, reducing risk, and improving project performance.
A strong safety culture doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with leadership accountability at every level—from the executive suite to the field trailer. Sessions in this track focus on practical strategies for building safety into planning, pre-task briefings, and daily huddles. You’ll hear from large and mid-sized regional contractors who have moved beyond compliance checklists to create environments where workers speak up about hazards and supervisors respond.
Expect discussions on structuring effective safety committees that include trades, foremen, superintendents, and executives. Learn how to use leading indicators—completed inspections, corrective actions, participation in safety suggestions—rather than waiting for lagging metrics to reveal problems.
Construction consistently faces elevated suicide rates compared to other industries. Substance misuse, chronic pain, job instability, long hours, and a culture that often discourages help-seeking all contribute to this crisis. Progressive companies are treating suicide prevention as a core safety issue—not just an HR concern.
The Summit will include dedicated content on recognizing warning signs, equipping supervisors to have difficult conversations, and connecting workers to resources like employee assistance programs. You’ll learn how to integrate mental health into existing safety structures—toolbox talks, orientations, and supervisor check-ins—without creating additional administrative burden. This is about creating an environment where workers can get help before a crisis occurs.
Jobsite security is now a safety issue. Theft and vandalism of materials and equipment cost the industry billions annually. Trespassing, confrontations, and workplace violence scenarios have moved from rare exceptions to planning considerations. High-profile or remote sites present unique vulnerabilities.
Sessions will cover access control, fencing and lighting, managing confrontational situations, and coordinating with local law enforcement. You’ll hear case studies of theft and violence incidents, what went wrong, and how companies have adjusted their security plans. The focus is on protecting your people and your assets as integrated parts of your overall safety program.
With these core themes in mind, the Summit agenda is structured to maximize practical learning and application.
Artificial intelligence and data analytics are no longer future trends. In 2026, they’re active tools on many jobsites and in safety departments across the Carolinas. If you haven’t explored these solutions yet, you’re likely competing against firms that have. The Construction Health Safety Summit highlights safety innovation by exploring new technologies and practices that are shaping the future of workplace safety.
Sessions at the Summit will explore practical uses of AI and technology:
The Summit will also address realistic implementation challenges. Data privacy concerns, workforce acceptance, and integration with existing safety management systems are all on the table. Industry professionals will share what they learned piloting these tools—successes and failures alike.
The key message: technology supports, but doesn’t replace, strong field leadership and worker judgment. AI enhances your safety culture—it doesn’t substitute for it.
With technology and innovation as a foundation, the Summit’s agenda is designed to move from strategic context to practical application.
The Summit day is designed to move from strategic context to practical application, serving as a leading health conference for the construction industry. Here’s what you can expect:
After the opening sessions, attendees choose from concurrent breakout tracks:
Each track is designed around interactive discussion, not just presentations. Bring your questions and your toughest challenges.
Lunch doubles as a structured networking opportunity. Table topics will facilitate conversations on specific challenges: small contractor obstacles, subcontractor–GC collaboration, young safety professionals entering the field, and more. This is your chance to connect with peers facing similar situations.
The Summit wraps with a panel of contractors, safety leaders, and regulatory representatives sharing “what works.” The session guides attendees through developing a 90-day implementation plan—concrete next steps you can execute when you return to your company.
With a clear agenda in place, let’s review the actionable outcomes you’ll take home from the Summit.
The Summit is about implementation, not theory. You won’t leave with just notes—you’ll leave with tools.
|
Resource |
Purpose |
|---|---|
|
Updated safety culture playbooks |
Framework for leadership accountability and crew engagement |
|
Mental health conversation guides |
Scripts and approaches for supervisors to address warning signs |
|
Jobsite security checklists |
Step-by-step assessment for access control, lighting, and coordination |
|
Daily safety huddle templates |
Ready-to-use formats for effective pre-task planning |
|
AI pilot project frameworks |
Guidance for small and mid-size contractors exploring technology adoption |
|
Emergency preparedness checklists and resources |
Ensure readiness for a range of emergencies, supporting comprehensive safety programs |
|
Regulatory expectations summary |
Clear understanding of upcoming regulatory expectations |
|
Risk awareness resources |
Better awareness of emerging risks—from mental health to cybersecurity on connected jobsites |
|
90-day action plan template |
Prioritized next steps to improve safety performance within your own organization |
Consider this scenario: a mid-sized Carolinas commercial contractor sent their safety director and two superintendents to a previous safety summit. They returned with a revised safety committee charter, a new approach to toolbox talks, and a structured peer support program for mental health. Within 18 months, their total recordable incident rate dropped by 30 percent. That’s the kind of outcome one focused day can catalyze.
Investing one day at the Summit can reset and accelerate your company’s entire safety strategy for 2026.
Now, let’s explore the networking, sponsorship, and exhibitor opportunities available at the Summit.
The Summit is also a regional hub for connection. Attendees will meet peers, regulators, and solution providers from across North Carolina and South Carolina—all focused on advancing jobsite safety.
Structured networking includes:
For organizations looking to support the event and connect with hundreds of construction leaders, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available.
Sponsorship tiers typically include:
For more information about sponsorship, exhibiting, or attending the construction health safety summit, please contact the organizers.
