Providing a safe work environment for Pennsylvania’s workers requires complete commitment by employers and employees. For this reason, the safety initiative provides Pennsylvania employers and employees with the information and technical assistance needed to develop comprehensive safety practices in the workplace. It will also recognize the successful employer-employee joint safety programs, which result in the achievement of safety excellence.
 
The Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence is a highly competitive award. The information gained from these nominations provides valuable best practices that are shared across the state.
 
Any Pennsylvania employer is eligible for the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence; nominations for the award are voluntary. Information and criteria used to determine finalists include workplace injuries/illnesses vs. industry standards; and innovation and strategic development of safety policy and approaches.
 
This year, there were 11,077 certified safety committees in the state of Pennsylvania. Over 70 of those businesses were nominated for the award, 11 were selected as semi-finalists and 8 were named winners after completing the vetting process with auditors from the Department of Labor & Industry.