In design and construction, liability arose from sources both expected and unexpected. When it came to risk, 2016 was notable for setbacks and initiatives in worker safety and some tough lessons about flawed bridges.
Despite much progress over the years, the health and well-being of jobsite workers is as great a concern as ever. Starting with a report from CNA Financial that construction workers use opioid pain relievers more than any other workers and continuing with data that showed that construction work-zone accidents were on the upswing, it seemed as if years of safety progress were beginning to fade away. And when safety slips, it usually reflects poorly on the overall quality of work on a project, a recent study showed.