Safety Systems Management Installs Advanced Emergency Notification Systems at The New Terminal One at JFK

Will Help Ensure Worker Safety, Improve Emergency Communications

During Construction Phase of Landmark Structure

NEWNAN, GA (August 12, 2025) -- Safety Systems Management, a leader in wireless emergency notification and communication systems to alert employees during an emergency through all phases of the construction process, announced that they have installed 25 of the company’s mobile communications towers at The New Terminal One at JFK.

These proprietary towers, to be operational during the construction phase, will be spread across Phase A of the project, a 1.8-million square foot area that will include the new arrivals and departures halls, as well as the first set of 14 new gates.

SSM’s wireless emergency notification systems will offer seamless communication across the project during critical situations, providing immediate audio/visual alerts and mass messaging capabilities to ensure the safety, security, and informed response of all workers. These systems will come into play during any of a number of safety-related events, including fire outbreaks, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills, structural collapses, active shooter scenarios, even daily messages about working safely, including heat injury and illness prevention during the summer months.

The systems represent a more advanced approach in emergency notification and communication systems, which have traditionally relied on air horns. Operating off a radio frequency, the advanced emergency notification systems at the New Terminal One were installed after a close collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The systems, which will protect the health and safety of more than 3,000 personnel involved in the project, will be used in Phase A until its completion in 2026. Following the completion of this phase, the units will be deployed in Phases B1 and B2 until the terminal’s completion in 2030; active fire and life safety systems will replace the units in Phase A.

“The safety of our workforce is a core value at The New Terminal One,” said Joe Schwed, Head of Health, Safety, and Wellbeing, The New Terminal One at JFK. “Safety Systems Management’s innovative wireless emergency notification system is a game-changer for our construction site. With its advanced audio/visual alerts and rapid response capabilities, this system ensures that our workers are protected and informed during any emergency and for evacuation drills, setting a new standard for safety in large-scale construction projects.”

The heart of the system is a base station (head end unit) located in the medical trailer, which serves as the central command center -- the “brains” of the network. This base station allows the site safety team to:

• Control an LED sign board: The team can easily update emergency or safety-related messages to inform workers instantly.

• Use a dedicated emergency handset: Personnel can pick up the handset and broadcast urgent messages across all 25 communication towers on-site.

Each of the 25 communication towers is also equipped with a pull pendant, enabling any worker in the field to quickly trigger an alert in an emergency. At New Terminal One, the systems are set up so safety personnel receive a text immediately after a pull pendant is activated; following an investigation, the team can decide if an evacuation of the building is warranted. Repeaters are used to get the pull pendant signal back to the base station.

 The system can also be preprogrammed with 17 preprogrammed messages in multiple languages, with the ability to add an additional 15 tailored messages to meet client needs.

The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport has an ambition to be among the top airport terminals in the world. It is part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $19-billion transformation of JFK Airport, which includes two new terminals, two modernized and expanded terminals, a new ground transportation center and an entirely new roadway network. The New Terminal One will be the airport’s largest terminal at 2.6 million square feet and will have a total of 23 gates when the final phase is complete in 2030.

ABOUT SAFETY SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Founded in 2016 by pioneering entrepreneur and safety management professional Cory Sherman, Safety Systems Management specializes in wireless emergency notification and communication systems that can alert employees during an emergency through all phases of the construction process. The systems, run on a patented mobile platform, allows employers to become more proactive in their emergency action plans on the job site.​

The result is faster evacuation times, quicker notification of emergency services, and an improvement in overall jobsite communications. SSM also provides a wide range of construction site safety consulting services. Visit https://www.safetysystemsmanagement.com/.

ABOUT THE NEW TERMINAL ONE AT JFK

The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport is a bold and exciting project to develop a best-in-class international terminal that will serve as an anchor terminal in the Port Authority's $19-billion transformation of JFK into a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and the United States. The New Terminal One will set a new standard for design and service, aspiring to obtain a Top 5 Skytrax ranking.

The New Terminal One is being built on sites now occupied by Terminal 1 and the former Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, where it will anchor JFK’s south side. Construction is taking place in phases with full completion in 2030. The first phase, including the new arrivals and departures halls and first set of 14 new gates, is expected to open in 2026. At completion in 2030, the New Terminal One, with a total of 23 gates, will be 2.6 million square feet, making it the largest terminal at JFK and nearly the same size as LaGuardia Airport’s two new terminals combined.

The New Terminal One consortium of labor, operating, and financial partners is led by Ferrovial, JLC Infrastructure, Ullico, and Carlyle. The New Terminal One is being built by union labor and is committed to local inclusion and labor participation, focusing on diversity and capacity-building opportunities, including a commitment to target participation goals of 20% for minority-owned business enterprises, 10% for women-owned business enterprises, and 3% for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, with an emphasis on local businesses.

To learn more about the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport, visit https://portauthoritybuilds.com/redevelopment/us/en/jfk/planned-projects/terminal-1.html.