SMACNA Names 2025 Safety Innovator of the Year

The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association named P1 Construction, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, as the recipient of its 2025 Safety Innovator of the Year Award. The honor, presented in collaboration with SMACNA Premier Partners Milwaukee Tool and Federated Insurance, honors the company which has demonstrated an innovative safety idea, concept or best practice that has led to measurable improvement in its safety program or culture.

Greg Sweeney, P1 safety director, and Don Campbell, P1 vice president, accepted the award on behalf of the company at SMACNA’s Annual Business Meeting, the premier event of the year that gathers members, chapter leadership and industry partners.

P1 Construction earned this recognition through two initiatives that address critical challenges in construction safety: their Second Orientation Program and the Peer Connector Mental Health Program.

P1’s Second Orientation Program directly targets one of the most vulnerable periods for employees: their first few months on the job. P1’s data revealed that nearly half of all workplace accidents occur within the first year, with a third of those in the first five months. To combat this, P1 implemented a unique second safety orientation. All new associates participate in a refresher training 60 days after hire, reinforcing safety knowledge, ensuring buy-in and reducing the risk of early-stage incidents.

In parallel, P1 developed the Peer Connector Program, a voluntary, peer-to-peer mental health support system designed to break stigma and provide judgment-free access to help. Peer Connectors are trained employees who serve as approachable, confidential resources for colleagues. Identified by custom program branding and hard hat stickers, Peer Connectors offer immediate support and can connect individuals to professional help when needed. The program was inspired by the experience of a P1 safety specialist and military veteran, who shaped the initiative to address the alarming suicide rates within both the construction and veteran communities.

As part of the Safety Innovator of the Year Award, SMACNA, in collaboration with Premier Partners Milwaukee Tool and Federated Insurance, donates to a charity chosen by the winner. This year, P1 Construction selected The Battle Within, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders facing PTSD.