December Roundup 2025

This blog series serves as a monthly highlight of recent news/updates in the safety industry, including airport, construction, events, and general safety news.

To keep you informed about recent and current safety highlights, we’ve compiled some of the most pertinent updates and national stories here to keep you updated on all things safety.

This month, we’ll highlight how the most recent Fed rate cut will impact construction, the newest air safety legislation to be approved by the Senate, OSHA’s crowd management reminders for the holiday season, and more. 

In OTW news… we launched our Winter Sale! Read the OTW News below for all the details.

Table of Contents

1 – Fed’s rate cut boosts existing construction projects, more needed to spur new builds

2 – YYC Reopens Fully Rebuilt West Runway After $200M, Two-Year Rehabilitation

3 – Senate approves bill inspired by DC plane crash to ensure military aircraft will broadcast location

4 – US Labor Department’s OSHA encourages retailers to provide crowd management measures to protect workers during major sales events (a holiday reminder)

5 – Construction planning falls again, but data center boom continues 

6 – OTW News and Featured Products

Fed’s rate cut boosts existing construction projects, more needed to spur new builds

The 25-point cut from the Federal Reserve is, once again, somewhat encouraging to contractors and those hoping to secure funds from a lender. Yet, it still falls short of tipping the scales in favor of the majority, allowing them to break ground on new projects. While data centers and large commercial projects still remain a significant percentage of new construction, the growth is more moderate (or at a standstill) for smaller builds. Experts are in consistent agreement that, while the small rate cuts are encouraging, it’s going to take a downward trend in long-term rates to really get the ball moving again in the construction world. 

YYC Reopens Fully Rebuilt West Runway After $200M, Two-Year Rehabilitation

Airports across the globe are racing to keep up with the need for infrastructure and operations updates as travel continues to boom. Millions of passengers fly every year, and, with the increase in pedestrian traffic, comes the need for larger structures, well-maintained runways and taxiways, and, in many cases, smoother navigation of security and baggage claims. 

Most recently reopened in a long line of airport rehabilitations is Calgary International Airport’s (YYC) West Runway. A comprehensive amount of work was done to expand capacity for forecasted passenger and cargo growth and enhance the passenger experience. Much of the materials involved (nearly 90%) were reused or recycled – making this an incredibly sustainable project – and initiatives also included a water reuse program that saved close to 2 million litres of potable water. Airport officials are optimistic that this complete West Runway rehabilitation will extend the life of the runway for at least 40 years.   

Senate approves bill inspired by DC plane crash to ensure military aircraft will broadcast location

Congress has been in session, and Senators just passed a $901 billion defense bill geared toward raising military pay, sending aid to Ukraine, and more. While the recently passed annual National Defense Authorization Act was not amended to address safety flight concerns raised around the DC Army helicopter and passenger plane collision in January, Senators worked quickly to bring a bipartisan bill to the floor that would close the loopholes allowed in the defense bill. 

This new bill specifically addresses the required use of the ADS-B system, which broadcasts the location of the aircraft to others. The Army helicopter was outfitted with the tracking system, but it was flying with it turned off. The ROTOR Act was approved by the Senate and is on the way to the House as of December 18. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is hopeful that this legislation (that he worked on with Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell and others) will make it to the White House desk sooner rather than later.

US Labor Department’s OSHA encourages retailers to provide crowd management measures to protect workers during major sales events

Though over a decade old, OSHA’s directive on what crowd management measures should be deployed during major sales events in the holiday season remains relevant to this day. Black Friday and other holiday sales may be less of a free-for-all and involve far fewer crowd crushes than in years past, but protecting workers during heavy shopping times is still essential. The directive includes the following guidance: 

• Using on-site trained security personnel or police officers.
• Using barricades or rope lines for pedestrians that do not start right in front of the store’s entrance.
• Implementing crowd control measures well in advance of customers arriving at the store.
• Having emergency procedures in place to address potential dangers.
• Explaining the approach and entrance procedures to the arriving public.
• Not allowing additional customers to enter the store when it reaches its maximum occupancy level.
• Not blocking or locking exit doors.

Safe and healthful workplaces are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, so ensuring that employees are kept safe and well at holiday times (and the rest of the year) is an essential business practice for retailers. 

Construction planning falls again, but data center boom continues

Momentum in the commercial sector has decreased somewhat, falling by 1.1% regarding projects entering the actual planning stages. Nevertheless, data centers and large-scale megaprojects remain mostly at full throttle, with the Dodge Momentum Index (which tracks said projects entering the planning stages and leads real-life construction spending) sitting 36% higher than this time last year. Several large projects, including those of the educational and government categories, as well as data centers, entered planning in the last month, so positive momentum in all spaces is still hoped for as contractors continue to keep a close eye on rates. 

OTW News

The end of the year is go, go, go for so many, and it’s no different at OTW Safety! Our employees are spending time putting together personalized quotes for interested parties, manufacturing and overseeing barricades and deliveries in our warehouse, and finishing up all the necessary administrative duties before they’re out of the office at the end of December to spend time with their families for the holidays. 

The Winter Sale is on!

While we’re in the celebratory spirit, don’t forget about our incredible Winter Sale that runs through the end of January. These are deals worth celebrating! Now through January 31, you can save up to 20% on our bestsellers when you buy whole pallets or truckloads, or when you bundle with other products.

For this sale, you’ll be able to save big on:

• OTW 32” Compact Jersey Shape LCD Barricade (Receive 10% off a full pallet)
• OTW 42” Jersey Shape LCD Barricade (Receive 10% off a full pallet, 15% off FTL, and save an additional 5% when bundled with our Bi-Directional Hazard Light – BDL)
• AR10x96 Low-Profile Airport Barricade (10% off a full pallet, 15% off FTL, and save an extra 5% when bundled with our Airport Hazard Light – AHL)
• OTW Billboard Barricade (Receive 10% off a full pallet, 15% off FTL)

If you’re looking for even more savings on Billboard Barricades, ask us about them in Royal Blue – we have overstock available in this specific color, and that’s your best way to save!  

These are all incredible deals, so don’t miss your chance to stock up on OTW barricades while prices are low. Have questions? Our team is available to provide quotes, address questions, and more at orders@otwsafety.com. Please allow up to 3 business days for a reply over the holidays. 

Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year from OTW Safety!