SEAA Recognizes 2026 Safety and Training Excellence Across Steel Construction

Steel erectors and fabricators honored for advancing performance, training, and jobsite safety

The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) has announced the recipients of its 2026 Safety Excellence and Craft Training Excellence Awards, recognizing member companies that are raising the bar for jobsite safety and ironworker training.

Presented at SEAA’s Convention & Trade Show, May 5-8, in Kansas City, Missouri, this year’s awards reflect both consistency among top performers and continued growth across the industry, including the introduction of a new Fabricator Safety Excellence category.

“The expansion of the awards program for our fabricator members reflects the makeup of the association,” said R. Pete Gum, Executive Director of SEAA. Like the Erector Safety Excellence Award, it uses a points-based system evaluating EMR ratings, OSHA logs, citations, safety programs, and training initiatives.

“Year after year, we see companies continuing to push themselves. Not just to meet expectations, but to improve how they approach safety and training,” said Gum. “That kind of commitment doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built into how these companies operate, from leadership decisions to everyday decisions on the jobsite.”

Submissions are reviewed through a blind evaluation process led by SEAA’s Safety & Education Committee, using a points-based system that considers EMR ratings, OSHA logs, citations, safety programs, and training initiatives.

“These awards highlight companies that are doing the work, investing in their people, refining their processes, and creating environments where crews can perform at a high level,” said Jason Farris, Chairman of SEAA’s Safety & Education Committee. “That shows up in safety performance, but it also shows up in retention, training, and long-term success.”

The SEAA Safety Excellence and Craft Training Excellence Awards continue to recognize companies that are making measurable improvements in both safety outcomes and workforce development, reinforcing the connection between the two.

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Erector Safety Excellence
This year, 13 companies were recognized as repeat award winners, demonstrating sustained performance over time. Four companies, All Things Metal, Allen Steel Erection, JGM Fabricators & Constructors, and Cumberland Steel, earned recognition for the first time, reflecting broader adoption of proven safety practices across the industry.

World Class

• Cooper Steel, Shelbyville, TN
• Cumberland Steel co., Corbin, KY
• Derr & Gruenewald, LLC, Brighton, CO
• Gardner Watson Decking, Oldsmar, FL
• Group Steel Erectors, Inc., Ridgeland, MS
• MAS Building & Bridge, Inc., Norfolk, MA
• S&R Enterprises, LLC, Harrisburg, PA

Premier

• Cubas Welding Construction, Inc., Charlotte, NC
• Flex-Erect, Houston, TX
• GMF Steel Group, Lakeland, FL
• JGM Fabricators & Constructors, LLC, Coatesville, PA
• Piedmont Steel Company, LLC, Winston-Salem, NC
• Ropac, Inc., Deatsville, AL
• Shelby Erectors, Inc., Reddick, FL

Gold

• All Things Metal, Phoenix, AZ
• Allen Steel Erection, Inc., Merritt Island, FL
• JPW Erectors, Inc., Syracuse, NY
• L.R. Willson & Sons, Inc., Gambrills, MD

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Fabricator Safety Excellence
New for 2026, the Fabricator Safety Excellence Award recognizes fabricator members who demonstrate strong safety performance and a proactive approach to risk management. The category follows the same evaluation framework as the erector program, reinforcing consistent expectations across disciplines.
 
World Class

• Cooper Steel, Shelbyville, TN
  

Premier

• GMF Steel Group, Lakeland, FL
• JGM Fabricators & Constructors, LLC, Coatesville, PA

Gold

• Padgett, Inc. New Albany, IN
• Steel Service Corporation, Jackson, MS
  

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Craft Training Excellence
The Craft Training Excellence Awards recognize companies that are building and sustaining effective training programs for ironworkers. Submissions are evaluated against companies of similar size, emphasizing practical, scalable approaches to workforce development.

• Derr & Gruenewald Construction — Category 1 (121+ Ironworkers) — World Class
• GMF Steel Group — Category 1 — Premier
• MAS Building & Bridge, Inc. — Category 3 (1–60 Ironworkers) — World Class
• Shelby Erectors, Inc. — Category 2 (61–120 Ironworkers) — World Class