L&I reminds Pennsylvania employers of deadline to submit nominations for Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) invites employers to submit nominations for the 2022 Governor's Award for Safety Excellence, an annual recognition of businesses throughout the commonwealth that have implemented innovative and strategic safety policies that protect workers.

“Employers who prioritize safety lead successful businesses,” said L&I Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “The prioritization of workplace safety standards plays a major role in preventing injury and creating a workplace culture of mutual trust between employer and employees.”

All Pennsylvania employers are eligible for the Governor's Award for Safety Excellence. This highly competitive award supports the sharing of valuable best practices across the state. Information and criteria used to determine finalists include workplace injuries/ illnesses versus industry standards and innovation and strategic development of safety policy and approaches.

Nominations are due June 1, 2022. Information about how to nominate an employer is available on L&I'S website.

“The Governor's Award for Safety Excellence honors employers that set an example for other workplaces across the commonwealth,” Berrier said. “All workers deserve safe, healthy workplaces.”

Workplace safety is a major priority of the Wolf Administration. Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order in October 2021 that directed commonwealth agencies to take actions that advance worker protections in Pennsylvania – including studying the possibility of extending OSHA standards to commonwealth workplaces. The study will also analyze the potential costs and benefits of extending OSHA standards to all public-sector workplaces in Pennsylvania.

In April, L&I and the Office of Administration announced a partnership with Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to study the feasibility of extending the protections of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) standards to the workplaces of thousands of publicsector workers throughout Pennsylvania.

Certified workplace safety committees, supported by L&I'S Bureau of Workers' Compensation Health & Safety Division, are effective tools for Pennsylvania businesses to protect their workers and save money. Pennsylvania employers who establish certified workplace safety committees receive a 5% discount on their workers' compensation insurance premiums.

Award recognizes employers who have achieved highest standards of workplace safety