Editor's Note: The 2026 class of America's Safety Companies will be recognized Tuesday, September 22, during a live webinar beginning at 2:00 PM (EDT). More information about the webinar can be found at the registration site for How to Create and Sustain a World-Class Safety Culture: Insights from America's Safest Companies of 2026.

Rummel Construction Inc.

Construction

Scottsdale, AZ

750 employees | 75 sites | 11 EHS professionals

Eliminating time at sites where potential safety incidents could occur is an effective safety management strategy.

For Rummel Construction, a general contractor specializing in mass earthworks and paving, preventing safety problems is the best use case of current technologies. For instance, the company employs drones to eliminate the need for a crew to survey work areas. “Thousands of man-hours of crews slogging through work sites have been eliminated by one man and a drone working from a tightly controlled location,” explains Matthew Crosby, safety director.

In the harsh conditions of the American Southwest desert, heat-related illness is a formidable risk. Wearable technology can help mitigate this risk. To continue advancing this technology, the company is partnering with Arizona State University to study the effectiveness of two devices: one that monitors heat stress, and another that monitors hydration levels.

“Rather than a general Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP) where everyone is treated the same, we are hopeful that these tools will help us meet individual needs,” says Crosby.

Another prevention technology—telematics—is used to address driver safety. It enables supervisors to support safe driving habits. Prior to this technology, drivers were largely unsupervised while out on the road.

Technology can also assist in addressing inclusion. The safety team was involved in piloting translation earphones with several Spanish-speaking apprentices to improve communication and accessibility in the field.

These technologies are the practical implementation of a core safety value culture, which is embodied in Rummel’s Five Core Safety Accountabilities. They include:
• Executive Commitment—Clear, frequent and consistent message from the executive staff that leaves no doubt that safety is important to them.
• Management Accountability—Managers and supervisors are held accountable for safety, beginning with the belief that if you manage production, you’re responsible for managing safety.
• Safety Integration—Safety is an integral part of the production process. Risks are assessed during the pre-bid process through final closeout.
• Training—The goal is to have trainers endemic throughout the organization.
• Employee Recognition—While working safely is a condition of employment, the company believes in recognizing employees who have gone “Above & Beyond” expectations.

Technology, culture and belonging create a strong safety culture. “I consider the safety and health of our employees to be of prime importance and stand firm in my belief that no job is so important and no service so urgent that we can’t take the time to work safely,” says Rod W. Rummel, president.—AS