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The construction industry is one of the riskiest sectors one can work in. On most construction sites, there’s falling debris, loose wires, and dangerous heavy machinery, all of which place the lives of construction workers at risk. According to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry topped the 2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) with 937 worker deaths. The number represents a 4% increase from the 899 deaths reported in 2014.
Construction workers may also work odd hours, meaning they might work late into the night or head home in the dangerous hours, possibly bumping into the late night criminal element. One way many construction workers believe they can best protect themselves in these scenarios is by carrying a firearm. If you are working on a construction site and are wondering how to concealed carry as a construction worker, this article will provide you with valuable tips so you can effectively concealed carry on site.
BE INFORMED
First things first, you need to know the basics of how to concealed carry on a construction site. Depending on the state you are working in, concealed carry may not be permitted by your employer or state. The good news is that most states do allow employees to concealed carry in their workplace. With that being said, there are also states that recognize the right of an employer to prohibit their employees from concealed carrying on their premises. The best way to know if concealed carrying is allowed on your site is to ask your employer.
Do You Need To Have It All The Time?
Before you learn how to concealed carry as a construction worker, you’ll first need to determine if you will need to have your firearm with you at all times. On some construction sites, employees have locker rooms or places where they can store their jackets and other personal items before starting their shift. Do you have a safe way to store your firearm if you need to? Would you be legally allowed and safely able to store it there? Sometimes, it may not be feasible to carry a firearm. If you plan to carry a firearm make sure that it is both legal and safe to do so and that you have considered all scenarios.
Can I Keep My Firearm in My Vehicle?
If concealed carry on a construction site is prohibited by state law or by your employer, how can you be sure to have your firearm with you when you leave the site? You might be thinking of storing your firearm safely in your car, but is this legal? There are two factors that come into play when determining the legality of keeping firearms in your vehicle. The first is whether you are allowed to carry a loaded gun in your vehicle by state or workplace law and the second is the legality of employers prohibiting loaded firearms on the construction site. Again, these factors will depend on state law and employer preference.
PARKING LOT LAWS
Construction workers have 2nd Amendment rights (the right to bear arms) just like any other workers, but employers also have the obligation to ensure workplace safety. So how can these two things be reconciled? In order to help an employee become effective in executing a concealed carry on a construction site, many states have passed parking lot or “guns in trunk” laws. While the laws may vary by state as to their requirements, they typically share a few of the following restrictions with regard to your firearm, which must be:
Lawfully possessed by the employee
Concealed from view
Locked in a personal vehicle (in the trunk or glove box)
To date, there are 23 US states that offer some level of protection for concealed carry for a construction worker. Parking lot laws were the result of initiatives by state legislatures in the early 2000s. These laws allow employees to exercise their right to bear arms at work with some limitations. Under these laws, employers are prohibited from asking workers if they own a gun and from terminating them for being a gun owner. These laws differ from current workplace policies that restrict employees from concealed carry.
Employee Protection
Parking lot laws provide employees with a wide range of protections and are important to understand when learning how to concealed carry as a construction worker. Under these laws, for instance, employers are barred from actions such as prohibiting employees from possessing legally owned firearms in their vehicles, inquiring about possession of a firearm in the employee’s vehicle, searching those vehicles, or taking action against an employee based on any verbal or written statement regarding the carrying of a firearm in a private vehicle.
In addition, most parking lot laws bar companies from using the possession of firearms as a condition for employment. Under the law, no employee can be terminated, discriminated, or expelled for exercising their rights to keep and bear arms or exercising self-defense as long as the weapon is concealed.
Employer Protection
These laws also offer protection to employers. An example of such a protection is freedom from criminal or civil liability for damages arising from concealed carry on a construction site unless the employer himself/herself committed a criminal act involving a firearm or if the employer was aware that the person carrying the firearm would commit a criminal act on company premises.
BEST HOLSTERS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONCEALED CARRY
Once you have an understanding of the legal restrictions with regard to how to concealed carry on a construction site, it’s time to start to consider your holster options. Your choice of holster and weapon will likely depend on your type of work.
Ankle Carry
Ankle carry is great if your work requires you to spend a lot of time on your knees. An IWB is out of the question in this position. It’s recommended to pair a calf strap with an ankle holster as this will help keep your holster up. This can feel uncomfortable at first but with practice, you’ll get used to carrying with an ankle holster. One issue with this setup is that your gun can get dirty from all the bending and kneeling.
Tool Belt
Some tool belts are big enough to accommodate a full-sized 1911. Plier pouches can be excellent for storing extra mags. Screwdriver pouches offer the perfect fit for cleaning rods. Hammer slots can be filled with a tactical tomahawk so you can have a backup weapon.
Zippered Pouch
A zippered pouch is another option for how to concealed carry as a construction worker. It’s easily attached to your belt. The exterior also boasts slots for pens, pencils, flashlights, and other tools. The inside pouch can accommodate guns like a Walther PPK, Keltec, Snubby, or others. This carry can take a while to get used to but once you do carrying your firearm will be just like carrying a tape measure.
5-11 Shirts
5-11 shirts can make a good option for concealed carry for construction workers. They have chest pockets which are great for carrying lightweight guns.
Cargo Pants
Cargo pants have several pockets and these can be used to accommodate phones, cash, and car keys, in addition to spare mags for a pistol or revolver.
BEST PRACTICES FOR CONSTRUCTION SITE EMPLOYERS
The construction site is already full of risks. It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your employees. Some construction workers might have better peace of mind if concealed carry was not allowed on construction sites but then again others choose to carry and depending on state laws you will not be able to prohibit your employees from exercising their right to carry arms in this situation. For this reason employers should take the necessary steps to minimize their own potential liability. Here are some measures that employers can take to ensure workplace safety:
Be careful when complying with state specific laws on gun use and take additional steps. You can conduct background checks, prepare an emergency plan, or lead prompt investigations into workplace safety issues. Carla Gunnin, an attorney with Jackson Lewis in Atlanta, says that workplace violence does not necessarily involve weapons but can also include verbal assault and other threatening behavior.
Implement clear guidelines before encountering any problem. Do not implement policies as a reaction to an event. If possible, train supervisors on company protocols so you can easily handle any situation that may arise. It is always better to be safe than to be sorry.
Implement and maintain a workplace violence policy prohibiting employees from performing threats or acts of violence. Take note of the following points when drafting a violence policy:
It should be easy to read and understand
The policy should cover acts of violence (regardless of whether the act results in physical injury), harassment, bullying, and other forms of intimidation
It should prohibit carrying of weapons on the construction site as permissible by state law
It should set procedures for reporting threats or violent acts
It should implement disciplinary action for employees that violate the policy
It should explain available resources such as counseling services and employee assistance programs
It should prohibit discrimination and retaliation against victims of workplace violence
Involve the security team in the policy implementation. For possible violent outbursts, you should consider informing local law enforcement agencies. Terminate employees with known violent tendencies, if possible.
If your construction site is located in a state with existing parking lot laws, you should consider the following when drafting a policy about concealed carry for a construction worker.
The law allows an employee to store a firearm in their locked personal vehicle. As an employer, you should not allow your employees to bring concealed carry on company premises.
Implement security measures that control access to your parking lot where firearms can easily be concealed. Provide training to security personnel so they can monitor such areas and keep employees from being able to access their firearms and threaten the safety of other workers.
Have employees with concealed firearms register their weapons to ensure that only those with concealed weapons permits will store their firearms in their personal vehicles. Again, your state may not allow you to ask your employees if they own firearms. Always refer to state law before acting.
The Bigger Picture
The problem is that most construction sites may not have a policy covering how to concealed carry as a construction worker. If this is the case, you should check if your company has an active policy that will prevent you from carrying a firearm. If there is none, you should have a dialogue with your employer and see if you can work out an arrangement for allowing you to concealed carry.
You can work with your HR team to develop a comprehensive security policy which could include a concealed carry policy for construction workers which complies with state firearms possession and storage laws. Make sure that this policy is not limited to firearms. You can also help management assess the construction site and find ways to improve construction site security. For instance, you could suggest that your parking lot is supplied with adequate lighting and that the ingress and egress of people be monitored. With terminated workers, you should make sure that their access cards are promptly deactivated.
Developing policies for concealed carry on a construction site should be based on relevant state laws concerning carrying guns on construction site premises. At first, policies on how to concealed carry on a construction site can appear a little bit complicated and difficult to understand. Implementing a concealed carry policy entails having a clearer picture of the situation on your construction site. Follow these tips to make sure that concealed carry for a construction worker will be effective and will give your construction workers some peace of mind. A gun-free construction site can deliver a wide range of benefits not only for you but also for your company.
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How to Concealed Carry as a Construction Worker
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
The construction industry is one of the riskiest sectors one can work in. On most construction sites, there’s falling debris, loose wires, and dangerous heavy machinery, all of which place the lives of construction workers at risk. According to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry topped the 2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) with 937 worker deaths. The number represents a 4% increase from the 899 deaths reported in 2014.
Construction workers may also work odd hours, meaning they might work late into the night or head home in the dangerous hours, possibly bumping into the late night criminal element. One way many construction workers believe they can best protect themselves in these scenarios is by carrying a firearm. If you are working on a construction site and are wondering how to concealed carry as a construction worker, this article will provide you with valuable tips so you can effectively concealed carry on site.
BE INFORMED
First things first, you need to know the basics of how to concealed carry on a construction site. Depending on the state you are working in, concealed carry may not be permitted by your employer or state. The good news is that most states do allow employees to concealed carry in their workplace. With that being said, there are also states that recognize the right of an employer to prohibit their employees from concealed carrying on their premises. The best way to know if concealed carrying is allowed on your site is to ask your employer.
Do You Need To Have It All The Time?
Before you learn how to concealed carry as a construction worker, you’ll first need to determine if you will need to have your firearm with you at all times. On some construction sites, employees have locker rooms or places where they can store their jackets and other personal items before starting their shift. Do you have a safe way to store your firearm if you need to? Would you be legally allowed and safely able to store it there? Sometimes, it may not be feasible to carry a firearm. If you plan to carry a firearm make sure that it is both legal and safe to do so and that you have considered all scenarios.
Can I Keep My Firearm in My Vehicle?
If concealed carry on a construction site is prohibited by state law or by your employer, how can you be sure to have your firearm with you when you leave the site? You might be thinking of storing your firearm safely in your car, but is this legal? There are two factors that come into play when determining the legality of keeping firearms in your vehicle. The first is whether you are allowed to carry a loaded gun in your vehicle by state or workplace law and the second is the legality of employers prohibiting loaded firearms on the construction site. Again, these factors will depend on state law and employer preference.
PARKING LOT LAWS
Construction workers have 2nd Amendment rights (the right to bear arms) just like any other workers, but employers also have the obligation to ensure workplace safety. So how can these two things be reconciled? In order to help an employee become effective in executing a concealed carry on a construction site, many states have passed parking lot or “guns in trunk” laws. While the laws may vary by state as to their requirements, they typically share a few of the following restrictions with regard to your firearm, which must be:
To date, there are 23 US states that offer some level of protection for concealed carry for a construction worker. Parking lot laws were the result of initiatives by state legislatures in the early 2000s. These laws allow employees to exercise their right to bear arms at work with some limitations. Under these laws, employers are prohibited from asking workers if they own a gun and from terminating them for being a gun owner. These laws differ from current workplace policies that restrict employees from concealed carry.
Employee Protection
Parking lot laws provide employees with a wide range of protections and are important to understand when learning how to concealed carry as a construction worker. Under these laws, for instance, employers are barred from actions such as prohibiting employees from possessing legally owned firearms in their vehicles, inquiring about possession of a firearm in the employee’s vehicle, searching those vehicles, or taking action against an employee based on any verbal or written statement regarding the carrying of a firearm in a private vehicle.
In addition, most parking lot laws bar companies from using the possession of firearms as a condition for employment. Under the law, no employee can be terminated, discriminated, or expelled for exercising their rights to keep and bear arms or exercising self-defense as long as the weapon is concealed.
Employer Protection
These laws also offer protection to employers. An example of such a protection is freedom from criminal or civil liability for damages arising from concealed carry on a construction site unless the employer himself/herself committed a criminal act involving a firearm or if the employer was aware that the person carrying the firearm would commit a criminal act on company premises.
BEST HOLSTERS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONCEALED CARRY
Once you have an understanding of the legal restrictions with regard to how to concealed carry on a construction site, it’s time to start to consider your holster options. Your choice of holster and weapon will likely depend on your type of work.
Ankle Carry
Ankle carry is great if your work requires you to spend a lot of time on your knees. An IWB is out of the question in this position. It’s recommended to pair a calf strap with an ankle holster as this will help keep your holster up. This can feel uncomfortable at first but with practice, you’ll get used to carrying with an ankle holster. One issue with this setup is that your gun can get dirty from all the bending and kneeling.
Tool Belt
Some tool belts are big enough to accommodate a full-sized 1911. Plier pouches can be excellent for storing extra mags. Screwdriver pouches offer the perfect fit for cleaning rods. Hammer slots can be filled with a tactical tomahawk so you can have a backup weapon.
Zippered Pouch
A zippered pouch is another option for how to concealed carry as a construction worker. It’s easily attached to your belt. The exterior also boasts slots for pens, pencils, flashlights, and other tools. The inside pouch can accommodate guns like a Walther PPK, Keltec, Snubby, or others. This carry can take a while to get used to but once you do carrying your firearm will be just like carrying a tape measure.
5-11 Shirts
5-11 shirts can make a good option for concealed carry for construction workers. They have chest pockets which are great for carrying lightweight guns.
Cargo Pants
Cargo pants have several pockets and these can be used to accommodate phones, cash, and car keys, in addition to spare mags for a pistol or revolver.
BEST PRACTICES FOR CONSTRUCTION SITE EMPLOYERS
The construction site is already full of risks. It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your employees. Some construction workers might have better peace of mind if concealed carry was not allowed on construction sites but then again others choose to carry and depending on state laws you will not be able to prohibit your employees from exercising their right to carry arms in this situation. For this reason employers should take the necessary steps to minimize their own potential liability. Here are some measures that employers can take to ensure workplace safety:
If your construction site is located in a state with existing parking lot laws, you should consider the following when drafting a policy about concealed carry for a construction worker.
The Bigger Picture
The problem is that most construction sites may not have a policy covering how to concealed carry as a construction worker. If this is the case, you should check if your company has an active policy that will prevent you from carrying a firearm. If there is none, you should have a dialogue with your employer and see if you can work out an arrangement for allowing you to concealed carry.
You can work with your HR team to develop a comprehensive security policy which could include a concealed carry policy for construction workers which complies with state firearms possession and storage laws. Make sure that this policy is not limited to firearms. You can also help management assess the construction site and find ways to improve construction site security. For instance, you could suggest that your parking lot is supplied with adequate lighting and that the ingress and egress of people be monitored. With terminated workers, you should make sure that their access cards are promptly deactivated.
Developing policies for concealed carry on a construction site should be based on relevant state laws concerning carrying guns on construction site premises. At first, policies on how to concealed carry on a construction site can appear a little bit complicated and difficult to understand. Implementing a concealed carry policy entails having a clearer picture of the situation on your construction site. Follow these tips to make sure that concealed carry for a construction worker will be effective and will give your construction workers some peace of mind. A gun-free construction site can deliver a wide range of benefits not only for you but also for your company.