Job-Site Safety Institute

What Job-Site Safety Institute does

Job-Site Safety Institute (JSI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and educational organization founded in 2014 by Builders Mutual Insurance Company and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. JSI serves the U.S. construction industry — primarily residential builders with secondary reach into commercial and roadway work zones — by funding university-led safety research, developing and distributing free training resources, and convening industry, academic, and government stakeholders to reduce job-site injuries and fatalities. Its core activities are grant-making to research institutions (NC State, Clemson, Michigan State, George Mason, Oregon State, University of Utah, Western Carolina, East Carolina, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Hawai'i at Manoa) and the production of educational assets including 30+ toolbox talk videos (English and Spanish), the HablaSeguro mobile application for Latin-American Spanish communication, an Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) roofer training system, and the quarterly JSI Safety Connection newsletter.

JSI's business model is that of an industry-funded nonprofit research intermediary: it does not charge for its safety resources and does not develop or sell proprietary technology products. Operating funds come from a multi-year commitment by its founder Builders Mutual ($5 million pledged through 2030, on top of over $1.34 million contributed since 2015), competitive federal grants from OSHA's Susan Harwood Training Grant program, donations, and partner funding from organizations such as the National Housing Endowment. Distribution occurs through NAHB's network of 700+ state and local home builder associations, the International Builders' Show Jobsite Safety Zone, OSHA, NIOSH, CDC, BLS, and a self-serve digital download portal at jssafety.org.

JSI is governed by an industry-operators board led by Board Chairman Erik Anderson (AndersonMoore Kitchen and Bath), with President Bill Schaffner (former Builders Mutual executive) and Executive Director Rob Matuga (formerly Assistant VP of Labor, Safety, and Health at NAHB). Notable board members include former NIOSH Director of Construction Safety and Health Dr. Christine Branche. The organization is recognized by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (2024 Innovation Award) and NAHB (2019 Safety Professional of the Year), and reports concrete program outcomes such as training 721 workers through 39 fall-prevention sessions under its 2017 Susan Harwood Grant.

Name

Job-Site Safety Institute

Legal name

Job-Site Safety Institute

Website

https://jssafety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Job-Site Safety Institute (JSI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that funds university-led research and produces free safety training resources for the U.S. residential and commercial construction industry, primarily funded by Builders Mutual Insurance Company.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Safety Research and Education

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Safety & Site Safety Management (EDABAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Occupational Safety & OSHA Compliance (EDABAEAA), Working at Heights, Fall Protection & Scaffolding (EDABAEAH), Occupational Safety, OSHA & Workplace Compliance Training (EDAOAMAK)

Keywords

• Construction safety research
• Job-site safety training
• Fall prevention programs
• Residential construction safety
• Workforce safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: JSI receives funding through grants awarded to research institutions and industry partners. Major funding includes a $5 million commitment from Builders Mutual through 2030, and the organization has received over $1.34 million from Builders Mutual since 2015.
2. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, JSI accepts tax-deductible donations from partners and supporters to fund safety research and educational tool development.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Job-Site Safety Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and educational organization that funds construction safety research through grants to universities, produces free toolbox talk training videos, develops safety training programs (including fall prevention and immersive VR roofer training), and creates tools such as the HablaSeguro Spanish communication app. The organization partners with NAHB, OSHA, NIOSH, CDC, and academic institutions to deliver free safety resources, training, and research to the U.S. residential and commercial construction industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Toolbox Talks Video Library A free online video gallery of construction safety toolbox talks designed for use by supervisors and safety officers leading safety meetings on residential and commercial job-sites. Videos are available in English and Spanish.
• HablaSeguro Spanish Communication Mobile App A Latin-American Spanish communication mobile app developed through a grant to Clemson University that uses recorded phrases in regional dialects to help construction supervisors bridge language barriers and deliver safety information to Hispanic workers on job-sites.
• Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) Roofer Safety Training Virtual reality training system developed with Western Carolina University that uses immersive simulated environments to improve roofer safety awareness and training outcomes on construction job-sites.
• Fall Prevention Training Program A multi-module fall prevention training program covering ladder safety, scaffolding safety, conventional fall protection, additional fall protection, and rescue. Delivered in person across the United States through NAHB's network and direct sessions in English and Spanish, funded through OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grants.
• Fall Prevention In-Person Training Course for Residential Construction An in-person fall prevention training course developed through NAHB for residential construction workers, funded through a National Housing Endowment-supported JSI grant. Delivered as 20 in-person courses during the December 2024 to May 2025 period.
• JSI Safety Connection Newsletter A quarterly email newsletter providing construction safety research updates, industry trends, and JSI program news distributed to construction industry subscribers and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 721 workers educated on fall safety through 39 training sessions
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAHB is a key strategic partner for delivering safety training programs. JSI partners with NAHB for fall prevention training, behavioral health initiatives, and the Blueprint for Worker Well-Being Program. NAHB provides access to 700+ state and local home builder associations for training delivery.
• Centers for Disease Control / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDC/NIOSH is a research partner conducting safety studies including extended assessment of occupational fall hazards for Mast Climbing Work Platforms. Dr. Christine Branche, former NIOSH Director of Construction Safety and Health, serves on JSI's Board.
• U.S. Department of Labor / Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSHA provides Susan Harwood Training Grants to JSI for fall prevention training programs. JSI has received multiple rounds of Harwood Grant funding to educate construction workers on safety practices.
• U.S. Department of Labor / Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLS provides data for JSI-funded research analyzing the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) to study trends in construction worker fatalities and injuries.
• Michigan State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI awarded a grant to Michigan State University to research trends in job-site injuries and fatalities using BLS data. Research analyzes how changes in the construction industry impact safety.
• Clemson UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI awarded a grant to Clemson University to develop the HablaSeguro Spanish communication app for construction safety. Dr. Jason Lucas leads research on bridging language barriers for Hispanic workers.
• NC State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI partnered with NC State University for research on transitioning from hard hats to safety helmets. Dr. Alex Albert leads research on traumatic brain injury prevention in small construction firms.
• University of UtahmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI awarded a grant to University of Utah to study effectiveness of level tools and instruction on optimal ladder setup. Dr. Erika Pliner leads research on ladder safety practices.
• Western Carolina UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI funded Western Carolina University to develop virtual reality training to improve roofers' safety through immersive training experiences.
• East Carolina University Department of Construction ManagementsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for construction safety research collaboration.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner for health and safety initiatives in North Carolina.
• North Carolina Department of LaborsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner for labor safety regulations and training.
• North Carolina Home Builders AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level partner for delivering safety training and the Blueprint for Worker Well-Being Pilot Program in North Carolina.
• SAFE ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on safety and behavioral health initiatives in the construction industry.
• CPWR / The Center for Construction Research and TrainingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational construction research organization providing data and expertise on construction safety research and training.
• ARTBA FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI awarded a grant to ARTBA Foundation to test connected worker technologies in roadway construction zones. The Foundation will collect crash and near-miss data comparing connected vs non-connected sites.
• Ver-MacmajorTechnology or IntegrationMobile electronic traffic control equipment manufacturer partnering with ARTBA Foundation on Smart Work Zone technology testing for real-time worker and motorist communication.
• George Mason UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI partnered with George Mason University alongside NC State to research safety helmet transition. Dr. Sang D. Choi leads research on advancing workplace safety for small contractors.
• University of Southern MississippimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI awarded a grant to study telematics technology for fleet safety. Dr. Christine Branche chairs the Programs Committee overseeing this research on reducing motor vehicle accidents.
• University of Hawai'i at ManoamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSI awarded a grant to study best safety practices for small construction businesses using ethnographic research methods. Dr. Vineeth Dharmapalan leads direct observation and interview-based research.
• Oregon State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner with University of Hawai'i at Manoa for ethnographic research on small construction firm safety practices. Dr. John Gambatese provides expertise on human performance and safety decision-making.
• National Housing Endowment (NHE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic arm of NAHB providing additional funding for fall prevention training course development. NHE supports workforce development in residential construction.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Safety Council (NSC): Long-established U.S. nonprofit focused on eliminating preventable deaths across workplace, roadway, and home settings. NSC offers overlapping construction safety training content and serves a broader industry footprint.
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP): Large professional association for occupational safety and health practitioners. Publishes safety standards and offers training/certification—adjacent to JSI's mission but serving a broader, professional-member audience.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Federal regulator that funds safety training through Susan Harwood Grants (which JSI has received) and sets standards that JSI's research helps inform. Not a direct competitor but a key partner and the dominant government force in workplace safety.
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): Federal agency that conducts and funds construction safety research and has an Office of Construction Safety and Health. NIOSH is a direct JSI partner and a substantially larger, federally funded incumbent operating in the same research domain.

Others

• International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA): Trade association for personal protective equipment and safety equipment manufacturers. Relevant because JSI's research (e.g., safety helmet transition studies) directly intersects with ISEA members' product roadmaps.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): JSI's largest delivery partner; NAHB's network of 700+ state and local home builder associations is how JSI's training reaches the residential construction industry. While a partner rather than competitor, it is the most strategically comparable industry body.
• Builders Mutual Insurance Company: JSI's founding parent and primary funder. A workers' compensation insurer for the construction industry; its risk-management activities create the demand for JSI's research, and it provides the bulk of JSI's capital.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National construction industry trade association that offers safety training and a STEP safety program. Comparable to NAHB as a potential JSI distribution/partner channel for commercial construction safety.

Direct peers

• ARTBA Foundation: Highway construction safety research and training foundation; JSI currently funds ARTBA Foundation to study connected worker technology in roadway zones. Same grant-funded nonprofit model targeting transportation construction safety.
• CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training: The most direct peer: a national nonprofit research center dedicated to construction safety and health, funded by NIOSH. CPWR funds university research, develops training tools, and produces safety resources for the construction industry—overlapping almost entirely with JSI's mission and operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6OrYhP6pr1mgjp0j62Ikbw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jssafety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Job-Site Safety Institute