Building a Strong Data Center Safety Culture

This week, we talk about the need for a strong safety culture in operations and the construction of data centers. 

You’ve probably heard about data centers and how they are the “next big thing.” The truth is that they already are a big thing. There are currently about 5,400 data centers in the U.S., with that number expected to double by 2030. 

With that much activity surrounding data centers, it is important for managers and owners to develop a strong safety program that starts in the planning phase and extends into operations. 

Is Your Data Center Site Safety Program Ready for Hyperscale Demands? Navigating Safety Challenges in Data Center Construction 

There are about 5,400 data centers in the United States and experts predict that number could double over the next five years. This obviously indicates a huge opportunity for constructors and support for this industry. 

With any new construction, there always will be safety challenges that need to be met. These issues become more complex with hyperscale data center projects. The construction and operation of these centers are so large that a word had to be created to describe them. As the name implies, hyperscale is about achieving massive scale in computing, which is utilized for large data storage and cloud computing. To achieve these goals, infrastructure needs to be built to handle not only the needs of today, but future requirements. The race is now on to plan, design, and construct these centers. 

One important aspect of any construction project is safety, and hyperscale data centers are no exception. While many construction companies may have “in-house” safety professionals, more are finding that it is ideal to hire third-party companies that provide professionals who understand current local, state, and federal regulations, as well as deliver neutral oversight to a project. 

As any construction professional knows, safety violations can hold up a project, but, more importantly, violations can lead to people getting hurt or worse. 

 Unique Safety Problems with Hyperscale Data Centers 

In many ways, data centers have the same construction safety issues as any other site. However, they also present many unique challenges that, if ignored, could cost owners millions of dollars. Not only that, but ignoring those challenges can endanger the people completing the work for you. 

For instance, one challenge facing data centers are raised floors. Most data centers utilize a raised floor so that utility lines can be used for numerous servers without being in the way. These floors are designed in such a manner for easy access for maintenance and repair. But this type of construction comes with its own safety issues. 

If raised floor tiles are not installed according to standards in NEBS: Revised Floor Generic Requirements for Network and Data Centers, otherwise known as Telcordia GR-2930, there is a serious fall hazard for both human beings and expensive equipment.  

Another hazard could be metal whiskers. These whiskers occur when microscopic metallic fibers form on some of the structures and electronic components in data centers. These fibers can be knocked loose and end up within the center’s airflow, which could lead to catastrophic failure and exposure issues for those working in these centers. 

Data centers also produce a large amount of noise, sometimes as high as 96 decibels. (OSHA demands monitoring of noise levels above 85 db.) 

The data center-specific safety issues, combined with the regular needs that come with any construction project, indicate the need to hire professionals experienced not only with large construction projects, but hyperscale data centers. 

 Size Matters 

Although the term “hyperscale” refers to the amount of computing power these centers produce, it also could refer to the sheer size of data center buildings and campuses. The largest data center in the U.S. is outside Reno, NV and brags a building footprint of nearly 7.2 million square feet. That’s about 125 football fields. 

As with any project of this scale, it is important to understand your risks before the first shovel is even turned. Risk Management and Mitigation are important parts of the planning and construction process that includes scheduling, project management, and safety management. 

Like a ballet, the movements of construction should be planned as much as possible down to each motion. And like a ballet, a mistake can spell disaster. According to the Uptime Institute, and single data center outage can cost more than $300,000. Delays in construction can cost more. 

Unlike the construction of large retail centers or office buildings, data centers demand large amounts of electricity and beefy HVAC systems that can handle the amount of heat generated by thousands of servers. Average data center electrical consumption is about 100 megawatts a year. (The average American home uses 10,500 kilowatts per year.) 

From a safety perspective, that is a lot of opportunity for workers to encounter risks with energized electrical systems. Your safety professional should be well-versed in OSHA regulations as well as NFPA 70E regulatory requirements. 

In addition to the electrical risks, there are other environmental risks during the construction and operation of a data center. One such risk is noise hazards. While servers themselves do not produce that much noise, the equipment to run them and make sure they stay cool does. 

Some data centers produce noise as loud as 100 decibels, which is well above the 85 db considered by OSHA to be a risk. 

These risks are considered by safety professionals and implemented in a Safety Plan. 

 Safety Planning 

The major difference between a normal construction project and a data center is a matter of scale. Planning is key for both types of projects. 

A safety plan is essentially a document in which the risks associated with a project are spelled out. Once the risks are identified, the plan explains how those risks should be mitigated. A good plan, though, is more than just a checklist of tasks that need to be accomplished. Simply put, a safety plan is a contract among the owners of a project, the constructors, and the workers to assure the project is completed on time and on budget without anyone getting hurt. 

A good safety plan, however, has flexibility built into it because sometimes unanticipated risks arise. The idea is to keep work stoppage from occurring with the understanding that anyone on a job site has a responsibility to assure safety regardless of pressure to finish a project. Safety should always be a top priority.  

A good safety program will include ongoing education and training. This training can be as simple as morning safety briefings, sometimes called “tailgate meetings,” to go over important aspects of a project’s safety culture and planning.  

The beginning of safety training starts with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which provides certifications assuring that everyone on a job site is trained to be safe. 

Another important aspect of a safety plan is to ensure that regular site inspections by trained and certified safety professionals are completed and notated. While everyone on site must have an eye toward safety, inspectors will understand the “big picture” and will understand how the work being done, for example, by electricians may not be so safe for carpenters. A safety inspector should have an understanding of the whole project and where hazards may pop up.  

Who Should Care About Safety? 

No one would ever admit that they care more for the completion of a project than for the safety of the people completing that work, but we all know those people exist. There are many financial pressures when it comes to any large-scale project, and data centers are no exception. 

While work stoppages will cost money, someone getting hurt or killed on a project is much, much worse. Safety professionals sometimes have to remind everyone of this. 

Because of these pressures, it is always ideal to have a third-party contractor manage safety on a data center construction project. They are less likely to be influenced by pressure from a constructor and a project owner. 

It is not only managers who need to care about worksite safety, professional trades workers have a large stake in assuring everyone goes home safe every evening. But even these folks can forget or ignore training. Why climb down out of a lift to get safety glasses when a task only takes a minute? We don’t need to tell you what could happen; we’ve all had the training. It still happens, though. 

Everyone needs to buy into a safety culture and that culture starts with a qualified safety professional working with committed managers and owners.  

Preparing for the Future 

Hyperscale data centers will continue to expand and become more complex. To ensure your safety program is prepared for the future, you must be adaptable and plan ahead. 

Your managers and safety professionals should study and understand the latest regulations and trends. Regular trade conferences are held throughout the world to bring professionals together, such as the Data Center Expo being held in California in May 2026. 

Although the new technology seems to exclude the human element, nothing could be further from the truth. It is us humans who build and operate these structures, and it is our safety that is most important. 

When choosing safety professionals for hyperscale data centers, owners and managers need to hire someone who understands the challenges of these projects, is knowledgeable of regulations governing their construction, and reflects a positive safety culture. 

Critical Energy Infrastructure Services (CEIS) is a nation-wide leader in providing safety and quality assurance for the data center industry. Contact Corey Englebrake at 505-220-3022 or corey.englebrake@ceis.com for more information and start the process of making your project safer.