Artwork for podcast Future of Risk
Human side of data centers
Episode 3 • 17th June 2026 • Future of Risk • Zurich North America
00:00:00 00:25:11

Share Episode

Shownotes

https://www.zurichna.com/

From AI-driven demand to worker safety on the ground, the data center boom is reshaping construction risk in real time.

In this episode of Future of Risk, host Matt Wagner, Head of Construction Property at Zurich U.S., is joined by James Savage, U.S. Head of Construction Casualty and Chris Semlies, Project and Business Resilience Manager at Zurich Resilience Solutions, to explore the human side of data center construction. The discussion examines how labor shortages, compressed timelines and complex project environments are increasing safety risks across job sites. Key topics include video-based safety coaching, onsite medical clinics, worker fatigue and the critical role of safety culture in improving outcomes. The episode also highlights parametric insurance innovations, including heat index and air quality triggers, as tools for managing environmental risk and protecting workers. Ultimately, the conversation underscores that successful data center projects depend on proactive risk management, integrated safety planning and a consistent focus on workforce wellbeing.

In this miniseries, other episodes include:

5/20/26: Billion-dollar questions in the data center buildout

6/3/26: Lessons from data center claims

Record date: 4/10/26

Air date: 6/17/26

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
3. Human side of data centers
00:25:11
2. Lessons from data center claims
00:40:20
1. Billion-dollar questions in the data center buildout
00:39:32
19. What's next in AI?
00:43:17
18. Dark side of AI
00:39:38
17. 5 ways everyone can benefit from AI today
00:33:30
16. What is AI delivering so far?
00:34:51
15. How extreme weather is affecting cities
00:39:23
14. Top things C-suite leaders need to know now about extreme weather
00:22:13
13. How extreme weather impacts construction
00:28:03
12. Immediate risks extreme weather poses to your business
00:18:11
11. 2025 Legislative UPDATE: Legal system abuse reform
00:28:57
10. Deep expertise can help protect your business from changing risks -- with Jon Tate
00:09:07
9. Fueling growth in Middle Markets with Stan Bernard
00:06:41
8. How AI is transforming the insurance landscape with Paul Lavelle and Tobias Cushing
00:08:43
7. The drivers and impacts of legal system abuse with Keith Daly
00:11:22
6. Premises Perils: Unpacking Liability & Legal Risks
00:25:41
5. Plaintiffs' tactics: Fueling legal system abuse
00:30:46
4. Social inflation: The role of claims fraud
00:36:31
3. Nuclear verdicts: The drivers, impacts and solutions
00:27:19
2. Wide implications of third-party litigation funding
00:31:31
1. 2025 Legislative outlook: Legal system abuse reform
00:34:16
13. No longer niche: Programs and Captives gain ground
00:27:54
12. Pumping the brakes on commercial auto risks
00:23:09
11. A balancing act: Property rates and weather risks
00:25:42
10. Rate moderation and risk escalation with Alex Wells
00:26:04
9. Balancing challenges for employers and employees
00:16:15
8. Healthcare solutions for an evolving workforce
00:22:46
7. Healthcare pain points: A physician's view
00:21:29
6. Versatile tenacity: Auto industry trends
00:28:02
5. Leveraging big data to mitigate risk
00:21:31
4. Top risks facing financial institutions
00:16:40
3. The warranty role as a business strategy
00:12:42
2. Global Risks Report: Risks and opportunities
00:14:13
1. Today’s wholesalers face new liability risks
00:38:10
20. Safeguarding middle market businesses
00:15:24
19. Claims - Insights on emerging trends
00:39:52
18. Cyber risk: Avoid, safeguard and mitigate
00:38:43
17. International travel and risk mitigation
00:19:47
16. Greenwashing
00:29:56
15. Vulnerability within U.S. Infrastructure
00:23:45
14. Warehouse fires and the impact on businesses
00:16:36
13. Claims fraud costs society billions
00:32:05
12. The significance of 1.5 degrees Celsius
00:22:23
11. Business imperatives: ESG and sustainability captives
00:23:55
10. 2023 RIMS RiskWorld Recap
00:13:30
9. Apprenticeships
00:33:32
8. Preparing your business for an earthquake
00:26:46
7. What's top of mind for risk professionals?
00:30:46
6. Cyber Risk Trends
00:33:36
5. Women in Construction Week 2023
00:21:41
4. WEF’s The Global Risks Report 2023
00:18:56
3. Top Challenges Facing Auto Dealers
00:28:12
2. Is Excess & Surplus Right For Your Business?
00:29:34
1. Workers' Comp: How to control costs and keep workers working
00:18:22
24. Crop Insurance
00:22:03
23. Current Trends in Captive Insurance with Adriana Scherzinger
00:14:54
22. Citywide Resilience and Sustainability with Houston's CRSO Priya Zachariah
00:27:53
21. How to protect your business from rising car thefts
00:21:48
20. 5 EPL claim trends
00:26:48
19. Is work going to the dogs?
00:18:35
18. Adapting to the changing climate
00:15:59
17. Cyber Resilience? Yes, please!
00:31:26
16. Upskilling and Reskilling – keeping up with changing world of work
00:25:54
15. Insurance in movies
00:23:35
14. What makes a great leader
00:08:03
Innovation can start anywhere
00:16:20
13. Tort reform: leveling the playing field
00:29:45
12. IBHS and Hurricane Season Preparedness
00:17:53
11. Helping employees during Mental Health Awareness Month and Beyond, ft. Spring Health
00:29:32
10. Troy Mullins on the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
00:28:40
9. Patrick Sterling on risk
00:08:12
8. Auto dealers: challenges and opportunities
00:26:25
7. PFAS: the problem with “forever chemicals"
00:34:41
6. Business continuity
00:28:07
5. Centralized insurance for your fleet
00:22:32
4. WEF’s Global Risks Report: North America Overview
00:19:21
3. How Business Travel is Evolving
00:14:31
2. Ntl Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month Part 2: Best practices for businesses to spot and prevent
00:21:08
1. Ntl Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month Part 1: What your business needs to know
00:17:38
32. A year protecting your business
00:14:21
31. Winter is here: is your business prepared?
00:12:47
30. Why businesses are concerned about climate change
00:25:47
29. What could pandemic solutions look like?
00:29:09
28. D&I litigation: proactive steps
00:18:06
27. Unique risks of FI and Professional Service businesses
00:12:17
26. D&I ISO standards
00:21:48
25. What are convective storms and is your business prepared?
00:15:32
24. Is your company’s fleet ready for 2030?
00:42:29
23. Tech Manufacturing’s Evolving Risk Landscape
00:12:07
22. Companies review benefits with well-being in mind
00:35:48
21. Wildfire cycles and your response plan
00:18:58
20. How you can take advantage of Talent Marketplace?
00:30:35
19. Do you have a strategic recovery plan in case of wildfire?
00:05:37
18. Construction challenges for today…and tomorrow
00:15:09
17. An insurance captive means skin in the game
00:26:53
16. Hurricane emergency response plan tips
00:04:10
15. Flexible working: not if or when, but how
00:38:50
14. Kidnap & ransom: AKA “sleep good at night” insurance
00:29:30
13. Making D&O work for you
00:20:11
12. Benefits of Resilience Infrastructure
00:18:44
11. Change before you have to (International edition)
00:22:54
10. How and why you should deconstruct your business’ supply chain
00:27:50
9. What is social inflation?
00:16:32
8. Do your employees feel like they belong?
00:37:00
7. The challenges and benefits of remote interns
00:25:54
6. Is your business prepared for Hurricane Season?
00:17:24
5. How your business can benefit from parametric insurance
00:40:40
4. Justin Rose on Golf and Business
00:33:07
3. Billy Horschel on Golf and Business
00:20:53
2. Sustainability and TPC Louisiana Golf Course
00:49:20
1. Global Risk Report with Colleen Zitt
00:24:28