Safety Excellence Awards

Recognizing outstanding industrial safety performance

2026 Safety Excellence Awards

Submit Nominations

Program Overview

Since 1996, the GBRIA Safety Excellence Awards have recognized outstanding safety performance by industrial contractors and member facilities. The program reflects a shared commitment to safe worksites, with contractors and plant owners working in close partnership to ensure safe work practices. By highlighting organizations that set the standard for safety excellence and collaboration, the awards strengthen GBRIA’s focus on advancing safety across the region.

Entry Requirements

A completed nomination form submitted by a GBRIA member plant.
Contractors that experienced a fatality in 2025 are not eligible for consideration.
Contractors that received a repeat or willful violation from OSHA or any other regulatory agency in 2025 are not eligible for consideration.

Program Timeline and Deadlines

December 1: Nominations Open
January 9: Nominations Close
January 30: Applications Due
February 9 to 20: Independent Judging
February 26: First Round Award Selection Meeting
February 26: Finalists Announced
March 5: Second Round Award Selection Meeting
March 26: Awards Banquet

Review and Selection

All submitted applications are first reviewed by GBRIA staff to confirm completeness and compliance with the entry requirements. Each qualifying application is then evaluated and scored by three GBRIA member representatives using the scoring guidance provided below. The average of the three scores determines the applicant’s award placement.

Instructions

A video submission is required for each section of the application. Any style of video is acceptable, from a simple voice-over PowerPoint to a full production. No points are awarded or deducted for production quality. The quality of the content is what matters. Each video must clearly address all elements of the questions being asked and should present the information in a fresh and engaging way. A separate video is required for each section, and each video must be under 5 minutes.

Application Sections and Questions

Section 1: Commitment

Describe how management demonstrates its commitment to safety, including leadership involvement, visible initiatives, and the ways management sets expectations and reinforces safety culture.
Explain how front-line leaders show their commitment to safety, such as through daily practices, engagement with crews, coaching, and accountability.
Describe how front-line workers demonstrate their commitment to safety, including participation in safety activities, adherence to procedures, peer-to-peer support, and hazard identification.
Explain how your company recognizes safety accomplishments, behaviors, and performance. Include examples and submit supporting documentation.
Outline the methods used to gather input from front-line leaders and workers regarding safety programs, improvements, and emerging issues.

Section 2: Training and Development

Describe how your company develops and sustains leaders at all levels. Include processes such as leadership training, mentoring, performance evaluation, and opportunities for advancement.
Explain how employees’ key safety skills are developed to identify hazards, assess risk, and implement effective controls. Address both initial and ongoing safety leadership development.
Describe how you ensure training is relevant and effective, including methods for validating competency, updating content, and measuring training outcomes.
Identify the programs your company uses to encourage the reporting of incidents and near misses. Provide examples and submit supporting documentation.

Section 3: Learning Organization

Describe your organization’s incident investigation process, including how incidents are reported, reviewed, analyzed, and documented.
Explain how lessons learned from incidents and near misses are captured and implemented, and how this information is communicated throughout the organization.
Describe the internal and external auditing processes your company uses to proactively identify risks and drive improvement. Include examples and submit supporting documentation.
Explain how your company uses leading and lagging indicators to improve and sustain performance, and how these metrics influence decision-making, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts.

Section 4: Innovation

Provide an example of a unique safety solution your company has implemented or is currently developing. Describe the challenge, the approach taken, and the impact or expected outcome.
Explain how your company adopts or shares industry safety best practices learned from regional networks, peers, or other industries, and how these practices are integrated into your operations.
Describe any unique or innovative training programs your company uses to meet the needs of today’s workforce, including new approaches to engagement, communication, or skill development.
Explain how your company continuously improves successful work processes, including how improvements are identified, tested, and integrated into standard practice. Include examples and submit supporting documentation.

Section 5: Innovation in Safety (optional award submittal)

Submit up to three programs your company has implemented within the past three years that you consider Industry Best Practices. For each program, identify the year it was implemented and provide a brief explanation of the problem it addressed, the solution or practice introduced, and the results achieved. Supporting documentation is required and may include procedures, training materials, photos, metrics, or other evidence demonstrating the effectiveness and adoption of the practice.

Section 5: Community Service (optional award submittal)

Provide a brief summary of any community service projects your company led or participated in within the Greater Baton Rouge or New Orleans regions during 2025. Include the project(s) name, your company’s role, and the impact or outcome of the effort.

Section 6: Partnership in Safety Award (optional award submittal)

Submit a jointly completed project that addresses a unique, non-routine safety challenge. Your submittal must show how both the contractor and owner contributed to identifying the issue, developing the solution, and delivering the results. Clearly explain the partnership, the novelty of the solution, and the measurable safety improvement achieved. Include any supporting details or evidence needed to demonstrate the project’s impact.

Application Section Scoring

Each section of the application should be evaluated based on the strength, clarity, and maturity of the program or practice described.

Scoring Rubric:

0	Does Not Meet Requirements The program or practice does not meet minimum expectations, or no response is provided.
1	Meets Minimum Requirements Basic elements are present, but the description lacks detail or does not demonstrate meaningful implementation.
2	Standard for Industry The program or practice reflects common or widely adopted practices within the industrial sector.
3	Above Industry Standard The program or practice is well-developed, consistently applied, and shows performance above typical industry practice.
4	Exemplary / Far Exceeds Industry Standard The program or practice is exceptional, innovative, mature, and clearly surpasses industry expectations.

Note: Judges may award half points.

Overall Application Scoring

This score reflects the overall strength, maturity, and completeness of the contractor’s safety program as presented in the application. Judges should evaluate whether the company demonstrates clear processes, consistent execution, meaningful results, and evidence of continuous improvement. The score should represent the judge’s holistic assessment of the application, not just a sum of individual sections.

Scoring Rubric:

0	Incomplete Application The application is missing major sections or required attachments. It does not provide enough information to evaluate the contractor’s safety performance.
1	Emerging Processes The application shows early or developing safety processes, but falls below standard expectations for industrial contractors. Information may be incomplete or inconsistent.
2	Meets Baseline Expectations The application demonstrates sound, systemic safety processes that align with baseline industry expectations. Gaps may exist in areas such as continuous improvement, leadership involvement, or documented results.
3	Above Industry Standard The application presents mature processes, consistent execution, and evidence of continuous improvement. Practices exceed those of the average industrial contractor.
4	Exemplary / World-Class The application demonstrates fully developed systems, proven results over time, and an exceptional safety culture. Programs and practices are mature, sustained, and represent world-class performance.

Note: Judges may award half points.

Divisions

Nominees will be divided into three divisions based on company size and hours worked. The committee will determine the natural breakpoints for each category, so division sizes may vary from one category to another.

Awards Presented

Categorical Awards

First Place – Award of Excellence

Second Place – Award of Merit

Third Place – Award of Recognition

Specialty Awards

Innovation in Safety Award

Community Service Award

Partnership in Safety Award

Hal G. Ginn Award (Best Overall)

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