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.

Enerfab Power & Industrial LLC

Industrial Fabrication, Construction and Maintenance

Cincinnati, OH

1,500 employees | 45 sites | 60 EHS professionals

How’s this for a corporate strategy: “We believe that no job is so important that we cannot take the time to perform it safely.” That’s the mindset at Enerfab Power & Industrial, a fabrication, construction and maintenance company celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. On its corporate website, the company proudly notes that it has won 145 safety awards since 2001; that number is now 146, as Enerfab joins the ranks of America’s Safest Companies winners.

“Our organization’s success in safety is rooted in something deeper than policies or procedures—it comes from a culture built on presence, ownership, and genuine care for people,” observes Calvin Clark, Enerfab’s vice president, safety, health and quality.

To illustrate his point, Clark cites a specific safety practice involving corporate leaders. “Any corporate team member traveling to one of our jobsites is required to complete a Management Safety Observation. During this visit, the individual selects a craft employee and engages them in a brief, structured conversation about the work they are performing that day. The purpose of these questions is to create a meaningful interaction—showing that leadership took the time to be present, listen and understand the employee’s tasks, hazards and needs. It reinforces that safety is personal, and that every employee’s voice matters.”

When it comes to safety equipment, Enerfab doesn’t skimp on the quality. “We invest heavily in the tools and systems that support safe work,” Clark says. “From leading‑edge fall protection that exceeds OSHA requirements to Level 4 cut‑resistant, impact‑rated gloves, we consistently choose the higher standard.”

Enerfab is quite prolific when it comes to making a business case for safety. Clark cites several specific ways that the company leverages its safety culture as a significant contributor to the bottom line:

• “We tie safety directly to productivity and quality. Safe work is organized work. When hazards are removed and expectations are clear, crews work more efficiently, make fewer mistakes, and deliver higher-quality results.

• “We use data to show the financial impact. We track leading and lagging indicators, cost of incidents, rework, schedule delays, and labor impacts. The numbers consistently show that preventing one incident costs far less than responding to one.

• “We highlight customer expectations and market advantage. Many of our customers evaluate contractors based on safety performance. Strong safety results help us win work, maintain preferred status, and build long-term partnerships.

• “We emphasize risk reduction and business continuity. Incidents disrupt operations, damage equipment, delay projects and strain customer relationships. A strong safety program protects the business from avoidable risk and keeps projects moving.

• “We connect safety to culture and retention. A company that protects its people keeps its people. Reduced turnover, higher morale and stronger engagement all have measurable business value.

• “We show leadership presence as a cost saver. When leaders are present, engaged and reinforcing expectations, issues are caught early—before they become injuries, delays, or expensive fixes.”—DB