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 distributed 48 awards to companies and individuals representing multiple industries including transportation, manufacturing, construction, and oil and gas.

2020 Award Winner Photo Gallery

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Duane Kuehn Outstanding Safety Professional Award

This award is presented annually to an individual who has been instrumental in the development and implementation of safety programs, and honors those forward-looking individuals who, over the long-term, place safety and innovation at the forefront of their activities. This award is named after Duane Kuehn, a North Dakotan who worked in the safety industry for 40 years and who is credited with starting the North Dakota Safety Council.

  • Kelly Gaer, Safety Manager with Bartlett & West received this year’s Duane Kuehn Outstanding Safety Professional Award. Kelly has implemented the company’s first formal safety program leveraging expertise from 10 years in the U.S. Army and 15 years in safety management at the Kansas Department of Transportation.

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.

  • Bayer U.S. Crop Science, West Fargo, ND

Outstanding Safety Instructor

Given to a safety instructor who has taught a significant number of courses or students, and who has shown true dedication to improving safety in ND.

  • Michael McCloud – Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Minot, ND
  • Todd Fjeldahl – Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Minot, ND

Safety Driver Award Division 1 & 2

Given to member companies whose employees have a minimum of 3 years experience driving a company vehicle and a minimum of 100,000 miles incident free.

Employees of Wescom, Incorporated that received the award below:

  • Dustin Lipka, Duluth, MN
  • Lane Blakeman, Duluth, MN
  • Calvin Blakeman, Duluth, MN
  • Warren Korri, Duluth, MN
  • Shane Stolp, Duluth, MN
  • Jeff Nelson, Duluth, MN
  • Jarid Raisanen, Duluth, MN
  • Nathan Jacob, Duluth, MN
  • Jesse Efraimson, Duluth, MN
  • Garret Piff, Duluth, MN
  • Kara Aili, Duluth, MN
  • Jeremy Stolp, Duluth, MN
  • Fernando Hernandez, Duluth, MN
  • Nick Anderson, Duluth, MN

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.

  • Freedom Railcar Solutions, Palermo, ND
  • Freedom Terminal Services, Palermo, ND
  • Retrax Holdings LLC, Grand Forks, ND
  • WCCO Belting Inc., Wahpeton, ND
  • Bartlett & West Inc., Bismarck, ND
  • Community Contractors Inc., Grand Forks, ND
  • Sun Well Service (Steel Energy), Williston, ND

Safety Management Excellence Award

Given to member companies with an Experience Modification Rate 0.9 or lower, and whose leadership displays exemplary commitment to safety and supports key safety decisions, creating a caring company culture.

  • Bartlett & West, Inc., Bismarck, ND

Workplace Safety Merit Award

Given to member companies showing an Experience Modification Rate below 1 for the year 2020.

  • Barr Engineering Co., Bismarck, ND
  • Bartlett & West INC, Bismarck, ND
  • Bayer U.S. Crop Science, West Fargo, ND
  • Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, Bismarck, ND
  • Butler Machinery Company, Fargo, ND
  • Comstock Construction, Inc., Wahpeton, ND
  • Ellingson Companies, Harwood, ND
  • Home On The Range, Sentinel Butte, ND
  • Horab Transport Company, Williston, ND
  • McCody Concrete Products Inc., Williston, ND
  • Ottertail Power Company, Beulah, ND
  • Park Construction, Grand Forks, ND
  • Rachel Contracting, St. Michael, MN
  • Savage Services – Bowbells, Williston, ND
  • Savage Services – Savage Water Solutions, Williston, ND
  • Savage Services – Trenton EMI & Threading, Williston, ND
  • Savage Services – Trenton Pipeyard, Williston, ND
  • Savage Services – Trenton Railport, Williston, ND
  • Sun Electric, Inc., Fargo, ND
  • Trihydro Corporation, Bismarck, ND
  • Viant Crane Service, Mandan, ND
  • WCCO Belting Inc., Wahpeton, ND
  • Wescom Inc., Duluth, MN
  • Western Steel Builders, Inc., Hazen, ND
  • Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Minot, ND