Technical Report Details Safety Risks in Data Center Construction
Accelerated timelines and complex electrical commissioning phases create a narrow margin for error for construction crews.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- May 11, 2026
The surge in data center construction is creating overlapping hazards for workers as trades collide and site conditions shift rapidly, a new report states.
Joe Proulx, a compliance specialist at J. J. Keller & Associates, wrote the report, which covers risks from steel erection through equipment commissioning. It notes that construction schedules often compress phases, leading to simultaneous exposures like falls and electrical work.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited in the report show falls caused about 38% of construction deaths in 2024. Fall hazards on these sites span steel work, roofing and lifts, with failures often tied to lagging protection.
Commissioning poses acute dangers as crews energize switchgear and UPS systems near other trades, risking shocks or arc flashes from misjudged "live" status, the report says.
Key Hazards Listed
The report highlights these areas:
- Excavations: Daily checks by competent persons needed for deep duct banks to avert cave-ins.
- Site logistics: Heavy gear like chillers heightens struck-by risks from constant moves.
- Confined spaces: Vaults demand atmosphere tests for low oxygen or toxins.
- Hazardous materials: Fuels and solvents in tight areas require SDS access and labels.
- Silica dust: Concrete work needs HEPA vacuums or wet methods.
Work must stop if conditions change or safeguards lapse, per standard protocols in the report.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.