On Jan. 25, 2026, the world watched live as American rock climber Alex Honnold climbed to the top of Taiwan’s Taipei 101 with no ropes, harness, or safety net. Crowds clamored for a view in person, while 6.2 million viewers around the world tuned in to watch him complete the impossible. The event made for a streaming platform’s ratings dream and a general contractor’s worst nightmare.
Falls from elevation are the leading cause of death for construction workers, accounting for 421 of the 1,075 construction fatalities recorded in 2023. In 2022, one in five workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry, and 38.4 percent of these deaths were due to falls, slips, and trips according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is why Layton Construction dedicated the first quarter of 2026 to comprehensive fall safety training across all sites.
Plan the work, work the plan
Early morning on a typical Layton site, when most of the world is still hitting snooze, you won’t hear hammers or excavators. You’ll hear voices.
Layton CEO Dave Layton said, “I’d like to compare this to a football team, which huddles before every play to ensure every member of that team understands what comes next, what their assignment is, and how to effectively run that play.”
Before work begins, teams huddle together to review their daily work plan. These aren’t lectures. They’re conversations where every participant is expected to share wisdom, offer suggestions, and ask questions on the day’s work.
A Layton team member leading a morning huddle
All Layton sites operate under 100% fall protection, meaning workers must wear proper protection when working six feet or higher, and every team must submit a fall protection plan before any elevated work begins. These plans, and the discipline to stick to them, are what ensure every person on our sites returns home to their families. Creating a culture of caring and safety takes smart decisions and hard work in every moment of a project, especially when working at heights.
A close call to prove the point
In 2017, two iron workers fell 16 feet after an electrical incident on a project site in West Valley City, UT. In a single second, at an estimated 22 miles per hour, they were caught by their safety harnesses and proper fall protection.
But 24 hours earlier their story would have ended very differently.
A fall arrest system includes a full-body harness, connector, and anchorage
“Both would have died from the impact to the ground,” said Heather Densley, Layton ESH Data Systems and Communications Manager, if not for a Layton superintendent who noticed something was wrong the day prior.
While walking the site, the now-retired superintendent noticed the trade partners were misusing their fall protection equipment. He halted the work and explained the why and how behind the safety gear.
That one conversation saved two lives the next day.
A Layton helmet sticker and jobsite safety poster
Don‘t wait for problems; prevent them
Everyone who steps foot on a Layton project knows how to prevent falls: inspecting guard rails, checking safety netting, securing wall openings, and protecting against falling objects. If an inspection reveals faulty equipment, it gets destroyed or sent back to the manufacturer. No exceptions.
“Safety is one of the four core pillars of our values at Layton,” said Dave. “Effective communication will lead to better safety outcomes, better morale, higher quality, and of course, increased productivity.”
That commitment shows in the numbers. Layton’s EMR rating is 0.55—well below the industry benchmark. It shows in our people-focused signage, the cultures we foster onsite, and the sense of mutual responsibility we hold for one another. It all adds up to make Layton a champion of construction safety.
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About Layton Construction
Layton Construction is a privately held national general contractor, delivering predictable outcomes in commercial construction since 1953. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Layton operates from 16 strategic offices across the United States, employing more than 1,700 construction professionals who serve diverse markets including healthcare, education, commercial office, industrial, hospitality, and multi-unit residential. Founded on the core values of honesty, unity, safety, and quality, Layton has built a reputation for excellence in complex project delivery while maintaining strong partnerships with clients, architects, and trade partners nationwide.
Considering the complexities of cold storage facilities, their construction demands a specialized approach and expertise. And with such a rapidly growing market, key players like Layton are primed and poised to step up.
Layton depends heavily on the expertise and capabilities of our trade partners. Led by Cherelle Cortez, our Trade Partner Engagement and Development team is focused on increasing economic impact and the growth of our trade partners.