NORTHUMBERLAND, PA — The Shapiro Administration is spotlighting a major milestone in Pennsylvania’s push to protect workers, honoring a Northumberland County construction company whose safety record has drawn statewide acclaim.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited Zartman Construction, Inc. last week to present the company with a 2025 Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence, recognizing a workplace culture defined by planning, prevention, and employee involvement. The company is one of only four employers statewide to receive the award this year.
The recognition arrives as Pennsylvania surpasses a landmark achievement: more than 13,000 certified workplace safety committees established since 1994, covering over 1.6 million workers and saving employers more than $900 million in workers’ compensation premiums.
“Across Pennsylvania, employers are demonstrating how thoughtful planning and real collaboration can prevent workplace injuries,” Walker said. She praised Zartman Construction as “a powerful example of what it looks like when safety becomes part of a company’s identity.”
Founded in Northumberland and employing 102 workers, Zartman Construction has logged more than 1.1 million hours without a lost-time claim, driven by a rigorous safety framework that integrates risk assessment into every phase of a project. The company maintains a certified workplace safety committee that anchors planning, daily operations, and ongoing injury-prevention efforts.
President David Zartman said the company’s achievements reflect a shared commitment across all teams. “Construction is unique as every job site is different. At times conditions will change hourly,” he said. “Everyone deserves to go home to family in the same condition they came to work in. We are honored to be recognized for our efforts.”
State officials highlighted several standout safety measures that earned the company the award, including:
- Use of 3D site modeling to assess risks tied to critical operations
- Emergency-ready hardhats with scannable personal and medical information
- A deeply rooted behavior-based safety system tied to low turnover and consistent worksite habits
- A long-standing safety committee that has passed two state audits and plays a strategic role in planning
- Significant investment in modern safety tools, including the JJ Keller Safety Suite for training and incident management
- Internal incentive programs such as the Safe Super Award and the peer-nominated “Nailed It” recognition
Since 1997, the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence has honored employers whose programs reduce injuries, strengthen collaboration between labor and management, and advance statewide safety standards.
Officials say Zartman Construction exemplifies the progress Pennsylvania aims to expand: safer sites, empowered workers, and a culture that treats protection as a foundational responsibility—not a regulatory obligation.
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