Pennsylvania officials are celebrating a milestone year for workplace protection, highlighting the achievements of Zartman Construction, Inc., a Northumberland County firm whose safety culture has earned statewide recognition.
The Shapiro Administration announced that Zartman Construction is among the four companies selected for the 2025 Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence. During a recent visit, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker praised the contractor for embedding safety into every layer of its operations — from pre-planning to day-to-day fieldwork.
Walker emphasized the company’s role as a model for the industry. “Across Pennsylvania, employers are demonstrating how thoughtful planning and real collaboration can prevent workplace injuries,” she said, adding that Zartman Construction is “a powerful example of what it looks like when safety becomes part of a company’s identity.”
The award comes as Pennsylvania surpasses a significant workforce safety achievement: more than 13,000 certified workplace safety committees have been established since 1994, protecting more than 1.6 million workers and saving employers over $900 million in workers’ compensation premiums. Officials say it is one of the largest statewide safety networks in the country.
Zartman Construction, which employs 102 workers, has recorded over 1.1 million labor hours without a lost-time incident. Its safety approach centers around rigorous risk assessment, modeling, and employee empowerment. A longstanding certified workplace safety committee anchors the company’s approach, ensuring planning, communication, and training are integrated into every job.
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Company President David Zartman said the recognition reflects a shared responsibility across all teams and job sites. “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 pointed to several standout safety practices that contributed to Zartman’s selection, including:
Since 1997, the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence has highlighted employers whose programs reduce injuries and strengthen cooperation between management and workers. State leaders say that Zartman’s example reflects the culture they hope to advance across all industries — one in which protecting workers is treated as both a moral obligation and a competitive advantage.
As Pennsylvania continues to expand its network of certified safety committees, officials note that companies like Zartman Construction are helping to set a new standard for safe, efficient, and resilient workplaces across the Commonwealth.
Originally reported by Maryann Pugh in My Chesco.
