TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a proactive effort to strengthen emergency preparedness and promote safer job sites, the University of Alabama partnered with Harrison Construction and the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alabama last month to stage a highly realistic construction collapse simulation on campus.

The event brought together first responders, construction professionals, and safety experts to engage in a full-scale, hands-on training drill that closely mirrored a real-life structural failure at an active job site.

The simulated collapse was designed to give local emergency crews the opportunity to practice rescue efforts, triage scenarios, and safety coordination in a high-stakes but controlled environment. Live actors portrayed injured workers and on-site news media to heighten the realism and intensity of the drill.

“Safety is paramount in Harrison Construction’s approach to every project," said Tim Harrison, President of Harrison Construction and Board Chair of ABC of Alabama. "Our employees’ families deserve their loved ones’ home each night, both physically and mentally, the same way they left the morning before."

The temporary structure built for the simulation reflected the conditions of elevated concrete work platforms commonly found on construction sites. It was constructed using scaffold bases and aluminum beams topped with plywood, with 4-inch-thick foam used to simulate poured concrete. The goal was to replicate the physical hazards and logistical challenges responders would face in a real emergency.

ABC of Alabama said the drill was part of a broader initiative to improve industry-wide safety culture and ensure that both construction firms and emergency personnel are fully prepared for worst-case scenarios. The group advocates for proactive training as a key method to reduce injuries and fatalities in the field.

The collaboration also served as a teaching tool for University of Alabama engineering and construction students, who were able to observe the exercise and learn how real-world jobsite safety protocols intersect with emergency response operations.

Alabama has seen increasing activity in commercial and infrastructure construction in recent years, raising the stakes for safety and coordination. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction remains one of the most hazardous industries in terms of workplace injuries and fatalities.

By facilitating simulations like this, officials hope to foster a culture of prevention and preparedness.

The event is expected to become a recurring exercise and may be expanded in future iterations to include more complex scenarios, such as confined space rescues, chemical exposure, or multi-casualty triage.

“We want everyone to be ready — from construction teams to fire and medical crews,” said one ABC of Alabama official. “Because when something goes wrong, seconds matter.”

Originally reported by Davis Cornell in WVUA 23.