Introducing Safety and Health, The Construction Safety Organization
Washington, DC, September 21, 2026 - Today, construction industry leaders announce the formation of the next chapter of construction safety and health. Together with the organization’s founding members, we are proud to launch Safety and Health, The Construction Safety Organization.
Safety and Health is a national trade organization dedicated exclusively to construction safety and health, built to protect every construction worker by empowering workers and enabling contractors.
The future of construction safety and health is the biggest opportunity of our generation. Over the last 30 years, construction fatalities have remained overwhelming and consistent, with over 1,000 occupational construction deaths annually. Safety and Health is dedicated exclusively to advancing construction safety and health from the employer’s perspective—an organization built by construction, for construction.
Construction remains one of the most dangerous and high-risk industries in America. While significant progress has been made, construction companies continue to face increasing challenges related to workforce safety, health, national and local regulatory complexity, and emerging risks.
This organization was created to:
Advance a workers-first mentality across the construction industry.
Advocate for practical, common-sense safety and health regulations, national and locally.
Unite leading construction companies to share best practices and innovations.
Drive measurable reductions in injuries and fatalities.
Most importantly, it creates a home for industry leaders who believe that protecting workers is not just a compliance obligation—it is a core business value. Safety doesn’t just advance on its own. It takes a lot of people, across the industry, with diverse experience, and from all over our country to make a real impact, and that’s exactly what we have done.
The team includes:
Raffi F. Elchemmas, President, is a nationally recognized construction association executive with over 15 years of experience helping construction companies improve safety and productivity while reducing risk and cost—contributing to billions in savings across the construction sector. With a “Workers First” mentality, he partners extensively across the industry—working with unions, merit shop contractors, trade associations, universities, industry solution providers, and construction companies both large and small.
Justin Azbill, Ph.D., Vice President, has spent more than 30 years helping construction organizations build safer workplaces, strengthen operational performance, and develop cultures where safety is a shared responsibility. As Vice President, he partners with owners, contractors, and executive leadership teams to develop practical, results-driven solutions that protect people while supporting project success.
Scott Ketcham, Lead Consultant, has dedicated 34 years of federal service at OSHA. He served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP), and the Directorate of Construction (DOC). He has also proudly served 24 years in the Active Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard as a commissioned officer, retiring in 2012.
Tim Irving, Consultant, is the former Acting Director for the Directorate of Construction (DOC) at OSHA’s National Office, where he spent 24 years advancing safety and health standards in the construction industry. His expertise includes expanding the National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction initiative to include Premier Partners, serving as Designated Federal Officer for the 15-member national Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH), and leading OSHA’s transition of compliance officers from traditional hard hats to newer ANSI Type 2 safety helmets. Prior to OSHA, Tim owned an electrical contracting business in Boston and holds Journeyman and Master Electrician licenses.
Pete Chaney, Consultant, brings extensive subject matter expertise with over 40 years as an occupational safety and health professional and is a CSP. He served as the longtime executive director of safety and health at several national construction trade associations, was the chairman of ANSI/ASSP A10.35, and has provided leadership on many national safety and health steering committees across the construction industry.
Brandon Anderson, Consultant, has 27 years of experience in the construction industry holding various positions from leadership to senior safety and senior employee development roles with expertise in heavy civil, roadwork, and DOT work. His work on leadership development, mental health awareness, suicide prevention and substance misuse has influenced governments, associations, organizations, and organized labor nationally and internationally, and has fundamentally transformed the way our industry views our workers.
Safety and Health is enthusiastic for this monumental task and is proud to serve the group of founding members who share the vision and mission.
Together, we are creating the industry's strongest voice for protecting workers, supporting construction companies, and elevating safety and health across the construction industry.
The Industry Has Been Asking for This. Now It's Here.
Learn more and join for free at safetyandhealth.com