Safety Considerations for a Data Center Project

1. Electrical Redundancy 
Data centers are built around electrical redundancy. Shutting down a single circuit is never straightforward—battery backups and generators are designed to seamlessly take over in the event of power loss. Because of this, specific safety protocols are essential. We implemented a system that included a vetted list of FZers who are authorized to perform Lock Out Tag Out procedures, along with a clearly defined set of operations to follow.

2. Building Trust and Transparency
No matter the size, a safety team cannot be everywhere all at once. We rely heavily on crew leaders and individual FZers to speak up when they have questions, are uncertain what the protocol is, or have identified a potential safety concern or risk. Trust and transparency don’t happen overnight; they’re built over time. We made it a priority to position ourselves as safety partners and resources, not as the safety police.

3. Safety Presence at Commissioning Meetings
Having a safety team member present at every commissioning meeting was a non-negotiable. These meetings helped us stay ahead of potential risks, such as generator startups or changes to lock/tag statuses. We then communicated these updates to crew leaders to ensure the entire team was informed and aligned.

4. Leadership Buy-In and Communication
With over 150 electricians on-site daily, we found that conducting Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and morning huddles at the crew level was more effective. Crew leaders took ownership of daily task briefings, risk assessments, and safety messaging. We also used a group messaging app to keep real-time communication among crew leaders. Our safety team attended daily foreman meetings to identify upcoming tasks that required additional oversight, training, or support. Additionally, we held weekly safety-specific meetings with crew leaders to reinforce our safety culture.

5. Industry Experience Makes a Difference
Our regional safety team brings real-world electrical experience to the table. Phil Schaffer, Safety Manager, is a master electrician with 15+ years in the field. Kyle Knarr, Safety Coordinator, has 5+ years of experience working as an electrical apprentice. I (Spencer Miller), Safety Specialist, have worked extensively with low voltage, data, and fiber. Anthony Vrooman, Safety Coordinator, has also been invaluable as our translator to our Spanish speaking trade partners. Our experience allows us to better identify risks and provide practical, real-time guidance during site walkthroughs.

6. Utilize Prefab
On this project, we leveraged a nearby off-site prefab shop to streamline production. This approach significantly improved safety by reducing congestion on-site, minimizing waste and storage needs, and providing a controlled environment for prefab workers.

Safety on a data center project isn’t just a checklist, it’s a culture built through proactive planning, clear communication, and mutual accountability. From managing complex electrical systems to fostering trust among teams, every decision we made was rooted in the goal of keeping people safe.

As we look ahead to future projects, these lessons will continue to guide our approach and strengthen our commitment to safety excellence.