Our Safety & Health Awards program is designed to promote incident prevention by honoring companies with outstanding safety programs, employees with superior safety records, and North Dakota citizens who have gone above and beyond to improve the safety and health environments in their communities.

“As a statewide non-profit, we are dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. Each of these award winners plays a significant role in helping to develop a stronger safety culture in our state. We’re proud to have them as partners on this journey,” says our executive director, Chuck Clairmont.

This year, we handed out 54 awards to companies and individuals representing multiple industries including transportation, manufacturing, construction, and oil and gas.

2021 Award Winners Photo Gallery

Photos taken at our Annual Safety & Health Awards Banquet on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, feature Kristin Wilson (NDSC Development Director) on the left and James Thorson (NDSC Board President) on the right, posing with the award winner(s). Other award winner(s) were presented with their awards at their place of business.

Advanced Safety Certificate 

These individuals strived to maximize their impact as a safety leader by completing the Advanced Safety Certificate.

  • Stefani Mikkelson, WCCO Belting, Inc.
  • Christine Schmidt, Central Valley Bean Co-op
  • Robert Simmons, Marvin

Community Advancement Award

Given to MEMBER companies who have shown a commitment to safety for their employees, families, and communities in which they operate by providing exemplary OFF-THE-JOB safety and health programs.

  • Red Trail Energy LLC

Outstanding Safety Instructor

These individuals taught a significant number of courses or students for the NDSC and received high marks for their training style, showing true dedication to improving safety in ND.

  • Todd Fjeldahl – Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Minot, ND
  • Michael McCloud – Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Minot, ND
  • North Dakota Highway Patrol
  • Taylor Peters, Dickinson Police Department
  • Mark Verke, NDIRF
  • West Fargo Police Department

Safe Driver Award Division 1

Recognizes drivers with a minimum of 3 years of experience driving a company vehicle and a minimum of 100,000 miles incident free.

Employees of Swingen Construction Company that received the award below:

  • Dylan Davis, Swingen Construction Company
  • Jon Hannestad, Swingen Construction Company
  • Adolf Juarez, Swingen Construction Company
  • Nathan Nelson, Swingen Construction Company

Workplace Safety Merit Award

Given to MEMBER organizations showing an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of 1.0 or below, for the year 2021.

  • Barr Engineering Co., Bismarck, ND
  • Butler Machinery
  • Comstock Construction
  • Horab Transport Company
  • KLJ Engineering LLC
  • LM Wind Power, Grand Forks
  • McCody Concrete Products, Inc.
  • Nooter Construction
  • Northern Technologies, LLC
  • Rachel Contracting
  • Red Trail Energy LLC
  • Savage Services – Trenton Railport
  • Savage Services – Trenton Pipeyard
  • Savage Services – Trenton EMI & Threading
  • Savage Services – Savage Water Solutions
  • Savage Services – Bowbells
  • S-O-S Inc.
  • Sun Electric, Inc.
  • WCCO Belting, Inc.
  • Western Steel Builders, Inc.
  • Winn Construction, Inc.

Safety Management Excellence Award

This award is given to MEMBER companies who give extensive training on safety to their supervisors, hold monthly safety meetings as well as train most staff in Hazard Recognition and Reporting. The company must also implement a proactive safety plan in the award year and have a company Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of 0.9 or below.

  •  Red Train Energy LLC

Safety Improvement Award

Given to MEMBER companies who have improved in the area of safety and shown a 50% decrease in their OSHA incidence rate from the previous year.

  • Comstock Construction

Emerging Safety Champion Award

Given to safety professionals who have been on the job less than 5 years, but have demonstrated a noticeable commitment to the safety culture of their organization.

  • Stefani Mikkelson, WCCO Belting, Inc.
  • Tyler Mock, Red Trail Energy LLC
  • Nathan Sandberg, Northern Improvement
  • Melissa Schumacher, Comstock Construction

Workplace Safety Milestone Award

Given to MEMBER organizations showing an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of 1.0 or below for 5 consecutive years.

  • Bismarck Parks and Recreation District
  • Butler Machinery
  • Horab Transport Company
  • KLJ Engineering LLC
  • LM Wind Power, Grand Forks
  • McCody Concrete Products, Inc.
  • Nooter Construction
  • Northern Coatings Inc.
  • Red Trail Energy LLC
  • WCCO Belting, Inc.
  • Western Steel Builders, Inc.
  • Winn Construction, Inc.

Lifesaver Award

These individuals went above and beyond the call of duty to assist and/or rescue another individual.

  • Desirae Friskop
  • Kailey Pribula
  • WCCO Belting, Inc.