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Matt Hallowell wrote a book on workplace safety. Industry made it a bestseller.

Susan Glairon — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:29:16 +0000

Matt Hallowell wrote a book on workplace safety. Industry made it a bestseller. Susan Glairon Mon, 11/17/2025 - 09:29

Susan Glairon

Professor Matt Hallowell presents at the 2025 CSRA Safety Summit, held in November at the Limelight Hotel in Boulder. More than 2,100 industry and academic professionals participated, both in person and virtually.

CU Boulder’s Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA), a nonprofit research organization established in 2018 by Professor Matthew Hallowell, brings together hundreds of industry and academic researchers to collaborate on creating and sharing new safety knowledge. The goal: to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.

Recently Hallowell wrote the book, “Energy-Based Safety: A Scientific Approach to Preventing Serious Injuries and Fatalities,” which summarized the research of more than 100 journal papers in reader-friendly terms.

Within 48 hours of announcing the book pre-order on Amazon, the book topped the charts in industrial psychology, ergonomics and industrial health and safety.

Your book is an Amazon bestseller. Why is a book about worksite safety so popular?

Serious issues and fatalities have been a big problem for a long time, and there hasn't been an evidence-based solution. There's a hunger in our profession for something new, and there's a big community behind it.

The book grew from the research we conducted in the CSRA—examining the unique causes of serious injuries and fatalities. We had produced a lot of papers on the topic, but they were scattered across journals and hidden behind paywalls. Industry simply isn’t going to chase them down.

This book is a one-stop shop; all the scientific evidence in one place. I took the research and presented the theory in accessible terms and explained how to integrate that knowledge into the everyday activities companies already perform.

Professionals have relied on traditional safety practices for decades. When did you first realize those methods weren’t enough to prevent serious injuries and fatalities?

Less-severe injuries have been declining year over year for a long time. Unfortunately, over the same period, the fatality rate has remained statistically unchanged. In fact, roughly the same number of people die on worksites as did 17 years ago. We knew we need to do something different. We had to figure out what’s different about serious injuries and fatalities.

What inspired you to do this type of research and create the CSRA?

I initially focused on traditional civil engineering. During my PhD, I became interested in safety, and, once I started at CU, I developed my own research style. Safety is a multi-faceted topic. There’s a little bit of engineering. A little bit of law. Some psychology, business. And I was interested in exploring all these angles.

Who is buying the book?

The biggest volume is from industry, although several professors from different universities will be using the book in their courses, which is cool! There’s a big push from industry to modernize academic programs, and this new evidence-based approach to safety is beginning to get attention in the academic realm.

What are the biggest takeaways from the book?

The book covers four major principles.

Energy causes harm. So anytime somebody gets hurt, energy from the environment is contacting them, like being struck by something, or an electrical shock.
More energy causes more harm. There's a limit to what we can sustain, and it's 1,500 joules.
Controls save lives. Energy is required to do work. Safety becomes our ability to harness that energy to get work done without it coming in contact with a person.
People drive performance. The situations we put employees in affect the decisions they make. If people are rushed and tired and they don't know the safety procedures, the controls are much less likely to be used correctly.

These principles apply to any injury that happens to anybody anywhere. These concepts are far broader than construction. Somebody recently posted on LinkedIn that they've been using energy-based safety for their commercial drone flying operations.

Industry members of the Construction Safety Research Alliance proudly hold Matt Hallowell’s new book, which showcases safety research contributed by these and other members.

What do you see as the biggest barrier to adopting this evidence-based research?

The biggest challenge is communicating that this work is not my idea of how safety should work, or what I think about safety. It's hundreds of people, it's hard evidence, it's experimentation and empirical data. And that's something that the safety profession hasn't had enough of in the past.

What's next for you?

For me, “next” probably won't be a book.

I underestimated how difficult it would be to write an evidence-based book. I'm not just sharing my ideas or guesses. Everything in the book is drawn from evidence. I tried hard to explain where the knowledge came from and why you should trust it. And I had to explain it in a way that would be easily understood. It’s much easier to write a journal paper!

I’m working on the next generation. We need to grow the scientific community in this field. Our PhD students are going off and teaching at other universities. That's the biggest way we improve our ability to do research. All proceeds from this book are being redirected to a scholarship fund that supports this next generation.

Attendees of the 2025 CSRA Safety Summit raise green and red buffalo-shaped paddles to answer a question projected on a screen during a panel session.

With fatalities unchanged for nearly two decades, industry has been hungry for clear, practical guidance rooted in solid research, says Professor Matt Hallowell. In his first book, Hallowell summarized the research of more than 100 journal papers in reader-friendly terms, providing the first comprehensive, evidence-based explanation of why serious worksite injuries persist and how to prevent them.

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Supply-chain delays, rising equipment prices threaten electricity grid

Susan Glairon — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:50:52 +0000

Supply-chain delays, rising equipment prices threaten electricity grid Susan Glairon Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:50

In this Conversation story co-written by Associate Professor Kyri Baker, the authors explain how two new Silicon Valley data centers sit idle because essential electrical equipment isn’t available—highlighting a nationwide shortage of transformers, breakers, cables and other critical grid components. These supply-chain bottlenecks are delaying projects, raising costs and straining the reliability of the U.S. power grid.

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AWWA Journal Cover Story: Q&A with Professor Karl Linden

Susan Glairon — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 22:44:00 +0000

AWWA Journal Cover Story: Q&A with Professor Karl Linden Susan Glairon Wed, 10/22/2025 - 16:44

Professor Karl Linden received the American Water Works Association’s 2025 A.P. Black Research Award, which honors outstanding contributions to water science and supply. Linden was recognized for his pioneering work in developing and applying ultraviolet technologies to improve water and wastewater treatment.

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5 ways to make AI more trustworthy

Susan Glairon — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:34:11 +0000

5 ways to make AI more trustworthy Susan Glairon Wed, 10/22/2025 - 12:34

In a new paper published in the journal, "AI and Ethics," Professor Amir Behzadan and his PhD student, Armita Dabiri, are unearthing new insights into how the artificial intelligence (AI) technology we might encounter in daily life, such as self-driving cars, can earn our confidence.

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Wildfires can still contaminate water 8 years later, researchers find

Susan Glairon — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:31:42 +0000

Wildfires can still contaminate water 8 years later, researchers find Susan Glairon Tue, 10/21/2025 - 10:31

This KJZZ Phoenix radio story reports on a study led by Alumna Carli Brucker (CivEngr PhD 23) of 100,000 samples from 500 watersheds across the western U.S., finding that wildfires can still contaminate water up to eight years later.

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Climate financing boosting water access for millions in developing nations

Susan Glairon — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:52:37 +0000

Climate financing boosting water access for millions in developing nations Susan Glairon Mon, 10/20/2025 - 09:52

Evan Thomas, director of CU Boulder’s Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience, is pioneering climate-financed clean water programs that have brought safe drinking water to over 5 million people in Africa. Using carbon credits to fund long-term maintenance and real-time water quality monitoring, the center aims to reach 3 million more people by 2030.

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CU Boulder Online welcomes new leadership as visioning process begins

Susan Glairon — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:20:26 +0000

CU Boulder Online welcomes new leadership as visioning process begins Susan Glairon Mon, 10/20/2025 - 09:20

Professor Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, interim vice chancellor for academic resource management, was featured in the Provost’s Post, where he discussed developing a new and lasting vision for online education.

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Introducing Sam Sohn, new CIEST director

Susan Glairon — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:34:33 +0000

Introducing Sam Sohn, new CIEST director Susan Glairon Tue, 10/14/2025 - 12:34

At CU Boulder, the Center for Infrastructure, Energy, and Space Testing (CIEST) is where innovation meets impact. The facility brings together students, faculty and industry partners to explore how infrastructure and materials perform under real-world conditions—from powerful geotechnical centrifuges to advanced structural and materials testing systems.

Now, under the leadership of Sam Sohn, CIEST’s new director, the center is deepening opportunities for hands-on learning, research collaboration and industry partnerships.

How does your background align with the mission of CIEST?

I earned my PhD in materials science from Virginia Tech in 2000, and have since worked in R&D and product developments across a range industries— including polymers, electronic materials, solar cells, EV batteries and automotive systems. These broad experiences have shown me how science and technology impact our daily lives.

The core mission of CIEST is to study infrastructure at small, medium and large scales such as building and underground systems—and to build a scientific foundation for improving resilience against natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis. In many ways, this aligns with my career path: leveraging science and technology for the benefit of society.

What excites you most about taking on the role of director?

My role has three core missions: supporting faculty in undergraduate and graduate teaching, providing the right experimental tools for research and bringing internal and external research to expand the center. The work is anything but routine—it demands creativity, collaboration and a strong drive for success, keeping me engaged every day.

What are some of the lab’s current or upcoming research projects that you’re most excited about?

CIEST supports several CEAE faculty research projects in geotechnical and structural engineering, ranging from concrete research to earthquake impact simulations using a centrifuge. The center also conducts multiple pipeline-related industrial research programs.

How is CIEST advancing testing capabilities for large-scale infrastructure, materials or energy systems?

CIEST is equipped with four hydraulic actuators, covering both uniaxial and bi-axial testing ranging from 110 kip and 220kip, (1 kip = 1,000 pounds). Our largest actuator can handle up to one million pounds. A series of centrifuges from small teaching units to large industrial-scale machines—enables a full spectrum of geotechnical research. These capabilities are versatile and can also be applied to aerospace and energy research.

What role do industry partnerships play in your research and testing programs?

Industry partnerships are critical, providing financial stability and strong connections for our students. Industry brings real-world, complex challenges to CIEST, requiring advanced equipment and expertise, which creates opportunities for mutual growth and prepares students for professional success.

How do students—both undergraduate and graduate—get involved in CIEST projects?

CIEST offers multiple ways for students to get involved. Some undergraduate students are hired directly by the center, while others work on research tied to their master’s or doctoral dissertations through their faculty advisors.

CIEST also hires postdoctoral researchers to lead and support industrial projects.

The center operates with a small professional staff and a large team of students and postdocs. One of CIEST’s core missions is hands-on education: students help design experiments, set up tests and analyze results, gaining a full understanding of how research is conducted from start to finish.

What skills or experiences do you hope students gain from working in the lab?

We live in an “AI-driven” era, where access to advanced knowledge is easier than ever. This makes higher education even more valuable, as success will depend less on “what you know” and more on “how you use it.” At CIEST, students gain practical, hands-on experience, applying scientific and engineering principles in real-world research. This experience equips CEAE graduates with the skills to innovate and excel in their careers.

In today’s AI-driven era, success depends less on what you know and more on how you use it, says Sam Sohn, the new director of CIEST. That’s what makes the center so vital. At CIEST, students gain practical, hands-on experience applying science and engineering to real-world challenges—preparing CEAE graduates to innovate and lead in their careers.

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Boulder Rotary presents peace award to Bernard Amadei

Susan Glairon — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:03:51 +0000

Boulder Rotary presents peace award to Bernard Amadei Susan Glairon Fri, 10/03/2025 - 15:03

Bernard Amadei, founder of Engineers Without Borders USA and former CEAE professor, has been honored with the 2025 Jim Swaeby Peace Award for his global humanitarian work. The award, presented by the Boulder Rotary Club, recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to peace.

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Mark Hernandez joins global commission on indoor air quality

Susan Glairon — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:45:17 +0000

Mark Hernandez joins global commission on indoor air quality Susan Glairon Mon, 09/29/2025 - 10:45

Mark Hernandez is serving as a commissioner of the newly launched Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air to elevate indoor air as a critical public health priority and drive coordinated global action and solutions.

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