NAHB/Builders Mutual Safety Award for Excellence Winners

The Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE) recognizes those in home building who have made successful efforts to advance jobsite safety in the industry. NAHB and its official safety sponsor, Builders Mutual, congratulate the 2024 winners.

The winners were honored at a ceremony in the IBS Jobsite Safety Zone on the show floor at the 2025 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, Feb. 25.

Leadership in Construction Safety

Willard “Buddy” Hughes
2025 NAHB Chairman
Lexington, N.C.

Buddy Hughes is a Lexington, N.C.-based home builder and developer with more than 45 years of experience in the home building industry. In addition to being an active participant in the NAHB leadership structure at the local, state and national levels, he was integral in creating the Jobsite Safety Zone for the International Builders Show, which has not only grown but reimagined the opportunities for highlighting the innovative safety products and leaders in residential construction. His other contributions to safety as a member of NAHB leadership, as well as a board member for both the Job-Site Safety Institute and Builders Mutual, shows his continuous dedication to promoting a safe and healthy workforce.

NAHB Safety Champion of the Year

Bill Hurley
MacCoy Home Solutions
Lynnwood, Wash.

At the heart of MacCoy Home Solutions’ safety strategy is the role of its Safety Coordinator Bill Hurley. With more than two decades in the construction industry and various titles and certifications, Bill brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role with MacCoy. He not only is responsible for ensuring each jobsite is equipped with the necessary safety equipment but also plays a pivotal role in educating and training the team. Bill leads weekly safety meetings, keeping every crew member informed about relevant safety protocols and updates. These meetings are essential in fostering a culture of continuous learning and vigilance, ensuring that safety always remains a top priority. Additionally, Bill conducts weekly walkthroughs on each jobsite to identify and mitigate potential hazards through internal reporting processes. This proactive approach allows for the early detection and resolution of safety issues, significantly reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.

Job-Site Safety Institute Innovative Safety Idea of the Year

SHK-1 Full Brim Helmet
Studson, Inc.
Sherwood, Ore.

The SHK-1 Full Brim Helmet from Studson is embedded with innovative technologies Koroyd and Twiceme and designed for a variety of situations on the jobsite. Koroyd absorbs and crumples instantly on maximum force, protecting your head from possible injury. Twiceme is a newer feature using “Near-Field Communication” technology that stores emergency contacts and critical medical information to allow first responders to access vital data when seconds matter. Built to withstand the toughest conditions, this helmet balances protection and durability for physical demanding jobsites in high-risk trades.

Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy (Organization)

Shaw Industries, Inc.
Dalton, Ga.

Flooring giant Shaw has embedded mental health and wellbeing into its employee programs, providing targeted support and proactive resources. Associates and their households have free, 24/7 access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which includes phone support, in-person counseling and onsite critical incident assistance to help during grief or disaster situations. Shaw implemented a Behavioral Health Council in 2019, which is composed of 16 senior leaders at the company, along with various external stakeholders. The council focuses solely on behavioral health and how to continue to remove the stigma and create access to care and support when associates and their families need it.

Single-Family Safety Program of the Year (Fewer Than 10 Home Starts Per Year)

John Joseph Companies
Green Bay, Wis.

John Joseph Companies’ safety policy is broken down into several categories to ensure that all responsibilities and situations are covered. They have the expectations clearly stated in their safety policy, which has created a cohesive team all working towards the same goal of safety on the jobsite. Since all their employees understand the company policies, their jobsites have been incident-free. Their employees know how to carry out their roles using OSHA guidelines for safety and therefore our safety policies have proven to be an effective program for their company. They have an incredibly high expectation of safety on their jobsites. All current and incoming employees are informed of this expectation and held to it daily. Their leadership provides yearly trainings and quarterly check-ins with all employees to ensure there are no issues or questions involving safety on the jobsite.

Single-Family Safety Program of the Year (11-100 Home Starts Per Year)

Trinity Custom Homes
Sarasota, Fla.

Trinity Custom Homes is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment through a comprehensive safety program. Key components of this program include continual training to stay updated with the latest OSHA standards and regulations. They place a high priority on ensuring that all personnel are well-informed and equipped to handle jobsite hazards effectively. Their safety program is also supported by regular oversight from a certified OSHA 510 safety manager who conducts routine site inspections and ensures all safety protocols are followed. Safety meetings and site reviews are conducted regularly, and all jobsites are equipped with comprehensive safety binders, which are reviewed weekly. These efforts ensure a more safe and secure environment for their workers.

Multi-Family Safety Program of the Year (Fewer Than 50 Employees)

Holland Construction, Inc.
Denver, Colo.

Holland Construction is committed to protecting employees, clients and the general public on all their projects. Their mission is to create a safe work environment that influences the attitudes of all who enter their jobsites. Holland Construction, Inc. is passionate about leading the industry by providing consistent leadership that changes the way people look at their relationship to safety. Their proactive collaborative approach provides employees and subcontractors with the tools, knowledge and resources they need to increase safety awareness and reduce risk on every project.

Multi-Family Safety Program of the Year (More Than 50 Employees)

Thompson Thrift
Indianapolis, Ind.

Thompson Thrift’s commitment to safety is embedded in their operational philosophy. They have developed a comprehensive written safety program designed to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This program emphasizes accountability and proactive implementation from ownership down through every level of their organization, creating a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility. In the multifamily construction industry, OSHA serves as the baseline for safety standards. However, Thompson Thrift goes beyond these minimum requirements, enforcing stricter safety protocols to protect our workforce and ensure quality work. As the controlling contractor, they are responsible for holding our subcontractors accountable, and they take this responsibility seriously.

Remodeler Safety Program of the Year (More Than 50 Employees)

Bennett Contracting
Albany, N.Y.

By creating an internal safety committee, Bennett Contracting can better reduce workplace risks, injuries, accidents, and illnesses, while ensuring compliance with federal and state health and safety regulations. In addition to regular safety meetings held with employees at every level, they also offered video training sessions early in the COVID-19 pandemic and have transitioned back to in-person trainings. Bennett’s up-to-date Safety Manual and other resources are also readily accessible online for all employees through on their website. Additionally, they have incorporated safety into their annual performance review process for all employees.

Associate Member Safety Program of the Year (More Than 50 Employees)

Minnkota Windows
West Fargo, N.D.

Minnkota Windows’ safety program understands an effective workforce requires employees to work in a safe production environment. Their employees are empowered not only to think about their own safety, but to work together as members of a larger team, from other production personnel to office support and even visitors. Minnkota Windows provides ongoing training and gives access to the appropriate tools that will equip everyone in the effort to prevent incidents from occurring. Minnkota Windows’ employees have stop-work authority if they believe a situation is unsafe, without fear of retaliation. Audits are performed by both internal and external representatives with the goal of following OSHA guidelines.

Specialty Trade Contractor Safety Program of the Year (Fewer Than 50 Employees)

Greenleaf Landscapes
Marietta, Ohio

Greenleaf Landscapes is committed to creating and maintaining a safe working environment, both for their employees as well as the public and customers. They conduct regular safety trainings, meetings and discussions, as well as daily inspections help to keep safety at the forefront of everyone’s minds in their day-to-day activities. Additionally, they are members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Safety Council and attend regular monthly meetings as council members. The management team at Greenleaf Landscapes strives to convey to their employees a safe and drug-free work environment is of the utmost importance, and that they will always provide all necessary training and resources.

Specialty Trade Contractor Safety Program of the Year (More Than 50 Employees)

Carpet Diem
Draper, Utah

Carpet Diem is dedicated to maintaining working conditions and practices that prioritize safety. To ensure this, they constantly develop, train, implement and enforce safety policies and procedures aimed at creating the safest possible workplace. Each team member (leaders and workers) has the responsibility to understand and follow our safety rules, policies and standards.

State or Local Association Safety Program of the Year

Montana Building Industry Association
Helena, Mont.

The Montana BIA has devoted time and energy to improve its “Guidance Readiness, Insuring Prevention,” or GRIP, program. GRIP’s main objective is to facilitate safer work environments through classroom education, onsite training, and safety audits to meet the needs of each company. MBIA provides safety training to its members for free, and their innovative approach to training and education allows MBIA to continue to be the foundation of safety education for the industry. The testimonials that they receive from class members prove that they indeed are working hard and take great pride in their efforts to keep workers safe.