P1 Earns SMACNA Safety Innovator of the Year Award

The P1 Safety team has done it again. After recently winning the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Award in the spring, P1 has earned the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) Safety Innovator of the Year award.

This award is different in that it isn’t about hours or incident rates, but rather how an organization creates and implements new safety measures and their impact on the company and its employees.

According to an announcement from SMACNA:

“Through its innovative programs, P1 Construction has not only reduced injuries and strengthened employee engagement but also set a model for the entire industry. The company’s focus on reinforcing safety knowledge and addressing mental health challenges exemplifies the spirit of the SMACNA Safety Innovator of the Year Award.”

According to Vice President Don Campbell, “World Class Safety Culture” is more than a slogan on a shirt - it is a way of life at P1.

“P1 appreciates SMACNA’s recognition of our efforts to build a world-class safety program through innovative initiatives. We always remain focused on our most important resources: the human ones. While P1 is always committed to embracing technology, we know our people are the most critical components to building the shared goal of a world-class safety record and culture company-wide,” Don said.

“Through rigorous daily checklists, mental health resources, training, and mentorship, P1 leadership, from the top down, is committed to ensuring our associates show up mentally and physically prepared to make the best decisions every day at every job site.”

The P1 Safety Department, from left: Safety Specialist Winston Wycoff; Senior Safety Coordinator Cheri Totta; Safety Director Greg Sweeney; Safety and Fleet Coordinator Kayla Hicks; Vice President Don Campbell; Safety Specialist Stephen Ratliff; Senior Safety Specialist Bry Grame; Safety Specialist Damon Flournoy (inset)

The application consisted of a narrative that articulated why your P1’s “Safety Innovation” deserves recognition.

P1’s application focused on the development of the Second Orientation and the Peer Connector Program:

Through jobsite audits (JSAs), mental health resources, training, and mentorship, P1 leadership from the top down commits to ensuring our associates show up mentally and physically prepared to make the best decisions, every day, at every job site.

Innovation is bringing about solutions that have a significant positive impact. P1 Safety has implemented several new initiatives - and strengthened existing ones - to keep our human resources at the top of their game.

Second Orientation: P1 looks deeply at what’s causing accidents and has developed a second safety orientation in which all new associates receive the standard safety orientation, and in 60 days are re-trained on the same topics to ensure they understand, and buy in to, P1 safety standards.

Peer Connector Voluntary Mental Health Training Program: P1 developed the Peer Connector program with one of our safety specialists, a military veteran. He helped shape the program based on his personal experiences with the serious suicidal issues faced by veterans.

Now, any P1 employee can confidentially talk to a P1 Peer Connector, judgement-free. Training is voluntary for those who want to help, and includes what to say and where to send someone for help. Peer Connectors are identified by a hard hat sticker.

“The world of construction is changing rapidly. Technology, off-site construction and pace-of-work has significantly advanced,” Don added. “Our team is equipped to keep up with those changes and try to be one step ahead.”

As part of the Safety Innovator of the Year Award, SMACNA, in collaboration with partners Milwaukee Tool and Federated Insurance, donates to a charity chosen by the winner. This year, P1 Construction selected The Battle Within, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders facing PTSD.

Congratulations to P1 Safety and all the associates who live our world-class safety culture each day.

Additional recent awards for P1's Safety Program:

• MCAA National Safety Excellence Award (multiple years)
• MCAA Safety Professional of the Year (Don Campbell)
• P1 has been a member of the exclusive OSHA BuildSafe Partnership for 20+ years
• Highwire Gold Safety Award