Builders University Overview

Translating Knowledge into Market Leadership

If it’s expertise you’re looking for, then you’ve come to the right place. Builders University (BU) is your best source for safety and risk management classes for contractors. 

Builders Mutual created BU as a center for educational excellence, to assist you in being proactive about safety and risk management. Our BU instructors give you the tools you need to develop a comprehensive, high-impact risk management strategy for your business.  It’s not just about keeping your workers safe.  It’s about your bottom line.

Saving You Money

When we talk safety, we mean business.  And we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is. By attending class and getting Fall Protection Certified, youmay be eligible to reduce your WorkSafe workers’ compensation premium at renewal.*  If you’re not yet a Builders Mutual policyholder, talk to your agent about getting Fall Protection Certified during the insurance application process.

Plan to Take a Class Today

Click on the class titles, to the left, for complete descriptions, and learn how your business will thrive after you've attended BU.  Use the calendar to find an upcoming class near you.

For NCHBA Members

Many BU classes have been approved by the North Carolina Builder Institute (NCBI). Earn NCBI credit toward your AA, AB, or ARS designation by attending. Contact your local HBA for more info.

* Not available in all states.

Fall Protection Certification Requirements

As a “Fall Protection Certified” policyholder of Builders Mutual, you may be eligible to reduce your WorkSafe workers’ compensation premium at renewal. Are you looking to switch your insurance to Builders Mutual? You may reduce your premiums as early as your first policy year by completing the Fall Protection Certification requirements during the application process.* To get certified, you must:

• Attend either Fall Protection or OSHA 10-hour Construction Industry Safety Course (owners and supervisors are required to attend, but all employees are welcome)
• Be exposed to falls
• Have at least three years of loss experience and a minimum annual WorkSafe workers’ compensation premium of $5,000
• Use no uninsured subcontractors that are in classes exposed to falls
• Pass the open book 50-question (multiple choice and true/false) Fall Protection Certification test
• Demonstrate to your BMIC risk management consultant that your company has an acceptable written fall protection program and implements it on all jobsites
• Allow your BMIC risk management consultant to visit annually for recertification

* Not available in all states.

Fall Protection

4 Hours

Year after year, the #1 reported jobsite accident remains the same - falls.    So why don’t contractors pay more attention to fall hazards and the safety programs that can prevent injury or even death? Often, they do not realize they are at risk. Don’t be another statistic! During class, you will hear true stories of how falls affect contractors’ businesses, employees, and their employees’ families. By attending, you meet Builders Mutual’s classroom requirement for Fall Protection Certification and you will learn to:

• Recognize fall hazards and reduce or avoid them completely
• Connect fall protection with productivity and profitability
  
• Effectively use guardrails and harnesses as fall protection methods
• Establish jobsite safety procedures for ladder and scaffold use
• Comply with OSHA standards to avoid costly fines
  
• Protect yourself against third party litigation
  
• Differentiate between general contractor and subcontractor responsibilities
  

En Español? This class is available in Spanish. The OSHA Construction Safety and Fall Protection manual’s fall protection section has been translated into Spanish. Our Spanish-speaking Builders University instructors are both bilingual and bicultural, so you can count on a well-rounded training experience.

Course Textbook(s)

OSHA Construction Safety and Fall Protection manual

Upcoming Classes

There are no upcoming sessions for this course

Enterprise Risk Management for Contractors

3 Hours

Is your bottom line at risk? Having a handle on your business’ controllable risks can often mean the difference between profit and loss. Will you leave it to chance or are you ready to take action? Enterprise Risk Management is the process of defining, identifying, analyzing, and planning for the risks associated with your company’s operations. This class is designed for business owners and managers to provide useful risk management tools necessary in today’s business environment. Upon completion of this class, you will able to construct and implement a risk management program specific to your company. By attending, you will also receive a Builders University course completion certificate.

Course Textbook(s)

Enterprise Risk Management for Contractors

Upcoming Classes

There are no upcoming sessions for this course

Safety Pays: A Practical Approach to Safety on Your Jobsite

4 Hours

Not all companies are alike, and not all safety programs work for everyone. Customization is key, and customization is exactly what you’ll get from this class! Your BU host (perhaps your agent or your local home builders association) will select from the range of topics covered in Fall Protection and OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Safety Course to tailor this class to your needs. Then, your BU instructor will design a class just for you, packed with practical safety tips that put money in your pocket and protect employees on the jobsite. Remember, jobsite safety is the responsibility of all owners, employees, and subcontractors on today’s construction sites.

En Español? This class is available in Spanish. Our Spanish-speaking Builders University instructors are both bilingual and bicultural, so you can count on a well-rounded training experience.

Course Textbook(s)

OSHA Construction Safety and Fall Protection manual

Upcoming Classes

There are no upcoming sessions for this course

OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Safety Course

10 Hours

Since 2000, more than two million people in the construction industry have been trained by OSHA’s 10 and 30-hour outreach programs. With OSHA’s implementation of a national emphasis program for construction site safety, contractors are challenged to step up their safety strategy. Get the tools and training you need to work safely, productively, and profitably.

Your OSHA 10-hour classroom experience will be split into two manageable days. (Instruction includes the complete Fall Protection class.) By attending, you will be able to:

• Write and maintain an effective safety program
• Train your employees to adopt your safety program
• Understand the relationship between insurance premiums and jobsite safety
  
• Use Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and hazard communication to properly handle hazardous substances
  
• Anticipate what to expect from an OSHA inspection, including your rights
• Comply with OSHA standards for hand tools, electrical, personal protective equipment (PPE), and excavations, thereby avoiding fines
  

Federal OSHA authorizes Builders University faculty as outreach instructors. Upon completion, you will receive a course completion card from Federal OSHA and a Builders University course completion certificate. By attending, you also meet Builders Mutual’s classroom requirement for Fall Protection Certification.

Course Textbook(s)

OSHA Construction Safety and Fall Protection manual, 29 CFR 1926 OSHA Construction Industry Regulations code book

Upcoming Classes

OSHA 30-Hour Construction Industry Safety Course

30 Hours

Designed for commercial and residential contractors, both owners and their employees, this class delivers real pictures and true stories from high-energy instructors to bring concepts to life. 

Dig into detail to deepen your understanding of OSHA standards. Cover topics like fall protection, and learn how it applies to steel erection. Learn more about reverse polarity, conductors, grounding, and electrical panel rooms. Find out how to protect workers doing excavations in various soil classifications. Discover the benefits of proper traffic control around a jobsite, and much, much more. 

Your OSHA 30-hour classroom experience will be split into five manageable days. (Instruction includes the complete Fall Protection class.) By attending, you will be able to:

• Discuss common causes of accidents and fatalities and their ultimate costs
• Write a safety program to identify and eliminate safety hazards
• Use the 29 CFR 1926 to avoid OSHA citations
• Confidently conduct routine training events, like safety talks

Federal OSHA authorizes Builders University faculty as outreach instructors. Upon completion, you will receive a course completion card from Federal OSHA and a Builders University course completion certificate. By attending, you also meet Builders Mutual’s classroom requirement for Fall Protection Certification.

Course Textbook(s)

OSHA Construction Safety and Fall Protection manual,
29 CFR 1926 OSHA Construction Industry Regulations code book

Upcoming Classes

There are no upcoming sessions for this course

Defensive Driving Course - 4

4 Hours

Driving conditions such as weather, traffic, and road quality can create a minefield of road hazards. Erratic behavior of other drivers and personal distractions like cell phones only compound the problem. Mix in the unpredictability of pedestrians - even animals - on the road, and you quickly see how easily it can set the scene for an accident...unless you're a skilled defensive driver.

We invite all company drivers to assess and develop their defensive driving skills and awareness, with the help of a National Safety Council certified instructor. By attending this class, you will be able to:

• Spot the Fatal Four driving behaviors that lead to crashes and violations
• Prevent injuries and fatalities by identifying roadway risks and hazards
• Distinguish between aggressive driving and road rage, and use techniques to avoid confrontation
• Increase your company's bottom line by reducing costly collision-related vehicle repairs, insurance claims, and lost work time

After class, you'll earn a personalized certificate of completion from the National Safety Council. Insurance discounts may even be availabe to companies who've had all their company drivers complete the class.

Course Textbook(s)

DDC-4 Course Guide

Upcoming Classes

There are no upcoming sessions for this course

Defensive Driving Course - Professional Truck Driver

4 Hours

For more than 20 years, the DDC Professional Truck Driver programs from the National Safety Council have been teaching defensive driving techniques to help professional truck drivers avoid collisions, injuries and violations.  This course conforms with the US DOT standards based on the Large Truck Crash Causation Study announced by the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  It can be modified to address any company's specific equipment, driver issues or policies.  We invite all company drivers to learn how to recognize hazards, avoid collisions, and choose safe and legal driving behaviors.

By attending this class, you will learn:

• How driver fatigue/stress affects operating a large truck
• Proper vehicle maintenance and inspection
• How to deal with changing driving conditions and hazards
• Physical/mental driver conditions that affect driving performance
• The three-step DDC Collision Prevention Formula

Course Textbook(s)

DDC - Professional Truck Driver Course Guide

Upcoming Classes

There are no upcoming sessions for this course

Safety Talks

2 Hours

All safety talks can be customized by the Risk Manager to meet the company or organization's specific needs.

Course Textbook(s)

varies

Upcoming Classes

There are no upcoming sessions for this course