April signals the real start of construction season in most of the United States. Weather improves, project schedules accelerate, and crews expand as work picks up. With that ramp-up comes increased exposure to risk. More equipment on site, more vehicle traffic, more workers who may be new to the project or the trade.
April also happens to be packed with national safety campaigns worth weaving into your toolbox talks and crew meetings. Work Zone Awareness Week, Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Stress Awareness Month, and Workers’ Memorial Day all land this month. Each one offers a ready-made reason to slow down and reinforce the basics before the pace gets away from you.
Work Zone Safety and Traffic Control
Hundreds of workers are killed in work zone incidents every year, with thousands more injured. National Work Zone Awareness Week typically falls in mid-to-late April, marking the unofficial start of construction season and drawing attention to this persistent hazard.
Work zone fatalities affect both workers and motorists driving near a construction site. Speeding, distracted driving, and failure to follow signage are leading causes. For crews working near active roadways or in areas with vehicle traffic, the margin for error can be pretty slim. A driver looking at their phone for a few seconds can cover the length of a football field, which means one mistake can get bad very quickly.
Review traffic control plans with crews before work begins. Make sure high-visibility PPE is worn consistently, not just when someone remembers to. Designate spotters and flaggers with clear communication protocols, and walk the work zone perimeter to identify gaps in signage or barriers. OSHA’s work zone safety resources and Safety Mojo toolbox talks can also offer additional guidance for developing site-specific protocols.
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Distracted Driving Awareness
This one goes hand in hand with work zone awareness. Distracted Driving Awareness Month runs throughout April, observed by NHTSA and the National Safety Council. In 2023, distracted driving killed over 3,200 people in the U.S. For construction crews, this risk cuts two ways: workers driving company vehicles and outside motorists driving through or near active work zones.
Distracted driving includes more than just phone use. Eating, adjusting controls, conversations, and even daydreaming all pull attention from the road. On jobsites where crews operate pickups, material trucks, or heavy equipment, the same principles apply. A momentary lapse behind the wheel of a loaded concrete truck has very different consequences than in a sedan.
Reinforce no-phone policies for anyone operating company vehicles or equipment. Encourage crews to report near misses involving distracted drivers in or near work zones. Plan trips so drivers can pull over safely to return calls or check messages rather than handling them on the move.
Additional Reading
Workers’ Memorial Day and Incident Reflection
April 28 marks Workers’ Memorial Day, a day to honor workers who have been killed, injured, or made ill on the job. The date commemorates the anniversary of OSHA’s founding in 1971. For safety leaders, it’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recommit to the fundamentals.
Construction remains one of the most dangerous industries in the country. Falls, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in hazards (OSHA’s Focus Four hazards) account for most fatalities. On average, 13 workers die from workplace injuries every day in the U.S. The AFL-CIO’s Workers Memorial Day campaign reminds us to “remember the dead and fight for the living.”
Hold a moment of silence or acknowledgment during a toolbox talk on or near April 28 to honor those workers. Use the day to review recent incidents or near misses on your own projects. Reinforce that every worker has the right to speak up about unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation.
Additional Reading
Stress Awareness and Mental Health on the Jobsite
Construction is one of the most high-pressure industries to work in. Tight deadlines, long hours, physically demanding work, and job insecurity all contribute to chronic stress. April is Stress Awareness Month, making it a good time to address something that often gets overlooked on jobsites.
Beyond mental health, stress directly affects safety performance. Distracted workers miss hazards. Fatigued decision-making leads to shortcuts. Burnout erodes the focus required for high-risk tasks. The spring ramp-up intensifies these pressures as crews push to make up winter delays and hit aggressive milestones.
Acknowledge stress openly in toolbox talks. Normalize the conversation. Watch for signs of burnout in crews, like irritability, disengagement, or increased errors. Remind workers about Employee Assistance Programs and other support resources available to them. The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention offers additional resources for safety leaders looking to address mental health more directly.
Additional Reading
Silica Dust Exposure and Respiratory Protection
As outdoor work ramps up in April, activities like cutting concrete, grinding masonry, and drilling rock generate crystalline silica. This is a known carcinogen that causes silicosis and lung cancer when it’s inhaled. OSHA’s silica standard requires engineering controls, exposure monitoring, and respiratory protection on many construction tasks.
Silica dust is generated by cutting, grinding, drilling, and crushing concrete, brick, and stone. Exposure limits are strict: the permissible exposure limit is 50 micrograms per cubic meter over an 8-hour shift. That threshold is easy to exceed without proper controls in place.
Ensure crews use water suppression or vacuum attachments when cutting or grinding. Verify respirators are properly fitted and maintained. Train workers to recognize silica-generating tasks and the controls required for each. Compliance isn’t optional, and neither is protecting workers from a preventable occupational disease.
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Housekeeping and Site Organization
When projects ramp up, materials pile up. Scrap, packaging, unused materials, and debris can accumulate quickly on active jobsites. Poor housekeeping creates trip hazards, obstructs egress routes, and makes it harder to spot other hazards hiding in the clutter.
Cluttered work areas increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Blocked exits and access routes create serious problems in emergencies. Disorganized sites also make it harder to maintain tool and material accountability, which can lead to theft, damage, and wasted time searching for what you need.
Dedicate time at the end of each shift for cleanup. Assign responsibility for housekeeping in specific work areas rather than assuming someone else will handle it. Walk the site regularly to identify accumulation points and address them before they become problems.
Additional Reading
Heat Illness Prevention and Early Preparation
Summer is still a few months away, but April temperatures can spike unexpectedly, especially in southern regions. Workers who haven’t acclimated to heat are at higher risk for heat-related illness. Starting these conversations now prepares crews before conditions become dangerous.
Heat illness can occur at lower temperatures than many people expect, especially with high humidity or strenuous physical exertion. Acclimatization is critical: new or returning workers need time to adjust. OSHA’s heat illness prevention resources provide guidance on water, rest, shade, and recognizing early warning signs.
Begin discussing hydration and break protocols before temperatures climb. Watch for early signs of heat illness: heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, dizziness. Plan for more frequent breaks as temperatures rise, and make sure shade and water are accessible in work areas. Taking these steps can help prevent heat-related injury and illness, instead of reacting to it.
Additional Reading
Strengthen Your April Safety Program
As activity ramps up this month, so does exposure to risk. Work zone safety, distracted driving, Workers’ Memorial Day, stress awareness, silica exposure, housekeeping, and early heat preparation all deserve a place in your toolbox talks and safety meetings. The crews you’re building now will carry the habits they form in April through the rest of the year.
Safety Mojo gives safety leaders a simpler way to capture field data, monitor leading indicators, and keep subcontractors aligned with the safety program across complex, multi-trade projects. If you’re preparing for a busy construction season and want to see how it works, book a demo.
