Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

Caterpillar introduces Speak Up!/Listen Up!

Words: Sharon AlbrightCaterpillar introduces Speak Up!/Listen Up! for Construction, a new safety training tool customized for the construction industry and developed in collaboration with 16 of the world’s leading contractors including Atkinson Construction, Granite and Kiewit Corporation. The training materials are designed to foster safe work environments by helping employees overcome the anxiety that can be associated with giving or receiving safety-related feedback. The complete package includes videos, presentation materials, handouts and a facilitator’s guide. All content has been tailored to reflect the specific challenges and risks inherent in a construction environment.

“Caterpillar has a long history of supporting our colleagues in the construction industry in the drive to continuously improve safety,” said CEO Doug Oberhelman. “This project reflects our belief that at-risk behaviors on any job site can be minimized when people communicate openly about safety. We’re pleased to have helped develop a practical tool that will engage, educate, empower and ultimately protect the men and women who buy and use our products.”

David Watts, vice president and director of safety for Atkinson Construction, was instrumental in engaging Caterpillar in the project. Having already achieved success with standard versions of Speak Up! and Listen Up!, Watts envisioned a construction-specific tool and recruited key industry players to help customize it.

“Construction-focused messaging makes the material even more compelling to employees in our industry,” he said. “Customizing the content was a way for the companies involved in the project to demonstrate our commitment to share world-class best safety practices.”

The customization process aligns with Caterpillar’s strategy to develop products and services to meet the unique needs of the industries we serve.

“The same is true for safety programs,” according to Tim Crane, Caterpillar Safety Services manager. “This tool speaks directly to construction employees and helps them communicate in a way that enhances trust and respect. That’s not just good for safety. It’s also good for business in general.”

Speak Up!/Listen Up! for Construction is available in English. General industry versions of Speak Up! and Listen Up! are available in 25 languages. For more information about each product and a list of language offerings, please visit safety.cat.com.
 0
Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q2
June 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

David Biggs
Bonding with Masonry
Read More
The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More
Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

MAP Partner
Read More
Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma

Lily Burger
Masonry in the Media
Read More