Transportation construction companies from three states were recognized Sept. 29, 2025, for their outstanding employee safety programs during the American Road & Transportation Builders Association's (ARTBA) national convention in Irving, Texas.

The annual ARTBA "Contractor Safety Awards" promote worker safety and health as core values of the transportation design and construction industry.

Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction of Draper, Utah, was named safety program "Grand Champion." The judges were impressed with the firm's achievement of consistent, year after year performance with nearly zero recordable injuries.

Companies were competitively selected based on their accident and injury rates on work sites as reported to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); their experience modification rates (EMRs) as determined by their insurance carriers; and their safety programs.

Finalists from four categories based on personnel hours worked in the previous year were invited to present before a panel of industry judges.

Selection criteria also included demonstration of key principles of safety excellence including management commitment, employee participation, incident investigation, auditing, planning and risk assessment.

The awards were presented as follows:

Less than 500,000 personnel hours = J. Banicki Construction Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.

500,000 - 1 million = KE&G Construction Co., Tucson, Ariz.

1 million – 2 million = Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction, Draper, Utah

More than 2 million = Austin Bridge and Road, Coppell, Texas

The ARTBA Foundation "promotes research, education and public awareness" about the impacts of transportation investment. The foundation supports an array of initiatives, including educational scholarships, awards, professional development academies, roadway work zone safety and training programs, economic reports and an exhibition on transportation at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

For details, visit artba.org.