The greater Phoenix Metro area is a growing destination for large-scale megaprojects, many of which are focused on technology-driven growth like data centers and colocation facilities. JLL’s North America Year-end 2024 report indicates that data center/colocation construction in Phoenix alone has grown nearly 200% since 2020.
JE Dunn, ranked ninth for semiconductor manufacturing and mission critical by Engineering News-Record’s 2024 rankings, builds for five mega clients throughout the country. There are 26 offices nationwide spanning 17 states; Arizona is the only market where all five clients are actively building. This exponential growth is due to a combination of factors that include availability of power, land, strategic location, tax incentives and water efficiency.
Demand for these specialized facilities means speed to market is a priority, challenging the construction market to meet the demand for high volumes of skilled labor in short timeframes. Amidst the challenge of bringing in a consistent stream of diverse and qualified workforce is the challenge of keeping large jobsites with complex schedules safe.
Balancing a Diverse Workforce while Upholding Safety
Megaprojects require a large workforce, which often means hiring travelers to accommodate aggressive schedules. A traveling workforce is frequently comprised of varying cultural backgrounds and familiarity with safety standards and typically sees a higher rate of turnover. Although prime geographically for regional data center and colocation hubs, the Phoenix market is comparatively remote. This makes it harder to bring in skilled labor because metropolitan areas are markedly farther apart in the Southwest compared to other markets in the East and Northeast.
The required volume of skilled labor for megaprojects forces a system of continuous onboarding, which means intentional training and development is paramount. Every project is unique, but safety on every project is founded in careful planning and consistency.
From a general contractor’s point of view, safety procedures can often be replicated from project to project because of systematic similarities. Developing a method of procedures (MOPs) ensures the facility is aware of safety processes and that they can be replicated. Construction can take place in operating facilities amidst sensitive environments that contain hazardous systems. High-risk activity planning (HRAs) can be developed weeks prior to active construction, allowing more effective collaboration, consistency in procedure and reliable results that help maintain overall site safety. Safety incident prevention plans (SIPPs) are another preventive measure used to identify, assess and prevent hazards in the workplace. Through careful planning and a focus on mitigation of potential risks, safety is prioritized even under the most demanding circumstances.
Accelerated Schedules, Increased Risk
Increasingly high demand for specialized advanced industry, mission critical and industrial facilities leads to aggressive construction schedules, exacerbating the potential safety hazards on complex jobsites and paving the way for safety shortcuts. We approach these complexities proactively, focusing on small changes that have big impacts under tight deadlines — balancing speed without compromising safety. Implementing fatigue management plans, performing higher risk work earlier in the day, and including swing shifts in scheduling to avoid long hours all lead to less risk of significant safety hazards. Any mitigating actions our teams can put in place to prevent shortcuts, maintain consistency and, ultimately, uphold high safety standards are all but required on megaproject jobsites.
Building for the Future
At JE Dunn, safety is at the forefront of our culture. We believe in doing the right thing and building a culture of caring, valuing every person on a jobsite as someone who deserves to go home safely at the end of each workday. A focus on robust processes and procedures is important to make sure we’re evaluating and mitigating risk on jobsites with expedited schedules, high-risk environments and a diverse workforce. The more we focus on safety and allow a broader array of skilled construction professionals to learn the complexities of advanced facilities, the more successful their delivery.
Arizona’s rapid growth in these markets presents unique safety challenges that demand expertise, innovation and a proactive approach. As we celebrate Construction Safety Week this week, we remain committed to leading the industry in safety, training and workforce development to ensure that as Arizona builds the future of technology, we do so safely and sustainably.
Nate Mock is JE Dunn’s safety director in Phoenix.
