An Ode to Building Safety Month 2025

Jack Roberts is the Deputy Director for the Inspections Division of the City of Phoenix, Ariz., where he has been working for over 20 years.

Since he was a child, Roberts has enjoyed writing poetry, most likely picking up the talent from his father who creates birthday cards for his family each year including poems he writes.

For the third year in a row, Roberts wrote a poem inspired by Building Safety Month underscoring the significance of this celebration and the importance of building safety.

It’s time to hit the field again, during the month of May

So stretch your building safety minds, to win this “game” we play

Let’s join the team from ICC, and kick-off this month with cheer

Be the champions of safety, that lasts throughout the year

Week 1 is called “The Warm Up” week, where we educate the team

To teach the plays from our code books, to build a head of steam

The knowledge that we glean from codes, can help us in our role

And give us confidence at work, to help us score a goal.

If we want to bring the cup back home, when the “game” is finally through

You have to “Build Your Offense” up, it’s the theme of our Week 2

Support the team, enforce the code, make your safety muscles strong

And train the kids that come behind, so pass your skills along

Spread the word throughout the land, that safety is the “game”

Show your jersey to the world, that ICC’s our name

Week 3 will focus on this thought, “Build Your Defense” is the theme

If we expect to win this “game”, we must prepare our team

Disaster strikes when we’re not aware, so be ready when it hits

 Learn safety tips and buy some things, to make disaster kits

Week 4 is all about the team, and the roles we play each day

To help our customers be safe, by showing them the way

The permit tech our planning team, civil, zoning too

The inspection group out in the field, and our plan review

We’re all a part of a winning team, our coach is ICC

 Our standard is the building code, life safety is the key

Before the “game” has ended, and the seconds tick away

We’re “Going Into Overtime”, Week 5 will call the play

Make sure your local building codes are always up to date

And give your team the tools they need, to do their jobs first rate

As technology advances, and AI is here to stay

Let’s use this tool to help us win, and keep the tragedies at bay

This May’s the time to get in shape, Building Safety Month is here

It’s “Game On” for our whole team to win, let’s put on our gear

So join the celebration, ICC will lead the way

And bring us home with victory, to win another day

One last thing in closing, Safety is our highest aim

“Game On” is just our monthly theme, saving lives is not a game

Visit and get involved in the Code Council’s Building Safety Month celebration, here.