Supervisors are stressed and it’s hurting safety

Contractors are feeling the pinch from the record-setting federal government shutdown, thanks to project slowdowns or cancellations and scary-high insurance premium estimates for 2026, among other impacts. This week, we share insights from contractors in Iowa and Pennsylvania dealing with shutdown woes. We also cover new developments in sustainable cement and one way to make your safety program more effective that you might have overlooked.  

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The surprising weak spot in your safety program

We all know training is critical to a successful safety program, but a new survey reveals it’s not just practical how-to construction instruction that makes a difference. Nearly all (96%) of the supervisors and managers taking Vector Solutions’ State of Frontline Safety Leadership in Construction survey say they feel personally responsible for creating a safe, supportive culture on their jobsite. 

 Most survey-takers (93%) say that structured supervisor training leads to fewer safety incidents, and (81%) would like courses and updates to help them know and comply with standards. Around one-third manage multilingual crews and say the communication gap hampers safety, highlighting the need for additional foreign-language resources.

 Additionally, almost three-quarters (71%) of respondents report coworkers talking to them about their emotional well-being or substance use; nearly half cited burnout and mental health as top concerns. About two-thirds (64%) are afraid they could make matters worse by saying the wrong thing in response, and 38% admit that their company hasn’t provided them with clear protocols for handling these types of issues.

“Construction supervisors are carrying enormous weight for their crews, from managing safety and performance to supporting workers through personal challenges,” says Clare Epstein, Vector’s general manager of commercial. “As the jobsite becomes more complex, supervisors need consistent training, clear guidance and accessible tools.”

Why it matters: Safety and mental health are crucial concerns for the industry, which, according to a CDC report, “has some of the highest injury rates in the United States... Opioid use and suicides have [also] risen significantly in recent years.” (ForConstructionPros.com)

Small contractors struggle under shutdown

The ongoing federal government shutdown is rippling through the construction sector, and owners like Perlla Deluca, president of Southeast Constructors, want legislators to restart the budget process.

“Today, our work is on hold," she says. "Our projects are paused, our teams are sidelined and our future is clouded by the inability of lawmakers to reach a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government.”

A recent Goldman Sachs survey indicates that about three-quarters (72%) of small enterprise owners agree.

Why it matters: “Shutdowns are not just political theater,” DeLuca says. “They are business disruptions. It’s time for Congress to reopen the government and give small businesses the stability we deserve.” (Des Moines Register)

Carbon-negative cement sector is setting up well

What was once an experimental compound is emerging as a viable commercial product. Carbon-negative cement, able to capture or offset more carbon than it emits, is being deployed more often as a sustainable building practice. Innovations in creating the material have made full-scale, mass production a reality. “Scientific breakthroughs are redefining cost efficiency, durability and scalability,” notes Nikhil Kaitwade, associate vice president at Future Market Insights, Inc., “positioning carbon-negative cement as a viable alternative for mainstream construction.”

Why it matters: The construction sector remains the largest user of cement, accounting for 62.4% of demand in 2025. A change to more sustainable options reduces consumption and environmental impact, potentially helping projects meet green building and sustainability requirements. (Future Market Insights)

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Getting more crew members to embrace contech

 "How do we shape that mindset of, ‘Oh, it's another tool that I have to keep track of?'... How do we shape the mindset of what I'll call the legacy workers out in the field that haven't started out with technology, to kind of open their mindset up to, ‘Hey, there's better ways to be more efficient’?" 
—Charles McKenna, Monteith Construction

On a recent Elevate Construction podcast, Charles McKenna, a project engineer with  Monteith Construction, and host Jason Schroeder discuss why so many in the construction industry are slow to adopt new technologies. One of the key barriers they identify is an entrenched mindset. Tune in to hear their takes and ideas to overcome barriers. 

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The Level is curated and written by Margot Lester and edited by Bianca Prieto.