XL Group's North America Construction insurance unit has begun offering driver safety training to construction fleets in collaboration with Issaquah, Wash.-based Swerve Fleet Training to improve that industry's safety record.

Nearly half of construction industry fatalities involve a vehicle, according to the group.

"Contractors face significant vehicle riskboth on and off the jobsite," said Scott Merchant, head of XL Group's construction risk engineering unit. "They work with vehicles of all sizes — dump trucks, tractor trailers, concrete mixers, tankers and others. If not operated safely, these vehicles are dangerous weapons instead of the useful tools they are meant to be."

XL Group's construction risk engineers collaborate with Swerve and its contractor clients to analyze and evaluate current driver performance. Using this information, Swerve provides XL Group's clients with a tailored 360-degree training and instruction to correct driver habits that are resulting in accidents and other losses, according to the company.

For more info, visit the Swerve Fleet Training website.