After the 2008 economic downturn, Matthew Jacquel faced a tough decision point in his career. Originally working in construction safety management, he found the industry had dried up where he was, leaving few job options. Jacquel took a chance and switched to insurance consulting, a move that has now lasted 16 years. Today, he is vice president of construction risk management at Marsh McLennan Agency, where he helps clients handle risks, regulations, and worker challenges in the building industry.
Jacquel never planned to go into insurance. He recalls starting as a safety manager in construction during the early 2000s but shifted paths when the recession hit. “I thought I’d try insurance for a year or two and then return to construction,” he said. “Clearly, that didn’t happen, but I have no regrets. I enjoy this work.”
Despite his background—his grandfather owned an insurance agency—Jacquel found moving from job sites to office consulting tricky. He liked the chance to work remotely, which was unusual back in 2009, but missed being able to directly enforce safety measures. “In construction, you have control. In consulting, you have to accept that clients might not always follow your advice, even if you are doing your job right.”
Jacquel’s approach is hands-on and practical. Instead of just telling clients about regulations, he listens, asks questions, and focuses on real problems he can help fix. He understands most companies are busy, not careless. His goal is progress, like cutting injury rates in half rather than expecting zero accidents overnight.
Regulations vary a lot depending on the state. Jacquel points out the differences, for example, between New York’s Labor Law 241 and OSHA rules in California and Washington. He also keeps an eye on how legal cases around insurance affect what companies need to do. Just following the law isn’t enough to avoid liability if someone gets hurt.
One growing concern Jacquel highlights is commercial auto insurance. Rates keep rising because of lawsuits and very high penalty verdicts. This is a tough issue with no easy fix in sight. For construction firms, risks rise if they don’t check drivers’ records or fail to manage data and monitor driver behavior. Jacquel and his team help companies identify these issues and improve safety.
The industry is also dealing with severe labor shortages. Older workers are staying longer, which raises injury risks, while fewer workers mean safety and quality can slip. Reports show there are over 440,000 worker openings in construction right now. Still, Jacquel is hopeful younger generations see trades as a good career choice, a change from past decades when the focus was mainly on college.
Supply chain problems and higher material costs from the COVID-19 pandemic have mellowed but remain a worry. Sustainability rules vary by state, with places like California and New York pushing stricter regulations that add costs. Natural disasters mostly affect personal insurance rather than large construction projects since these often use strong materials and avoid risky sites.
Jacquel sees the biggest challenge as helping companies truly follow safety rules. Many don’t mean to ignore them but struggle to make compliance part of their everyday work. He notes a common attitude that accidents happen to others, which is dangerous given that in 2023, construction accounted for nearly a fifth of workplace deaths in the U.S.
He believes change is coming slowly but surely, including new heat illness rules and much-needed legal reforms around insurance claims and lawsuits. Outside work, Jacquel enjoys podcasts, sports, and spending time outdoors with his wife and dog. He also gives back by writing for safety journals and recording helpful podcasts.
For Jacquel, working in construction safety and insurance is personal. Growing up around construction and studying maritime and environmental safety, he has blended his hands-on experience with insurance to help people work smarter and safer. As the industry faces ongoing challenges, his practical knowledge helps bridge gaps and keeps safety at the heart of construction work.