National recognition from EHS Today honors Douglas’ commitment to workplace safety and employee-owner involvement
ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — September 4, 2026 — Douglas has been named one of America’s Safest Companies for 2026 by EHS Today, joining a select group of only eight companies nationwide recognized for excellence in workplace safety.
Since 2002, EHS Today’s America’s Safest Companies program has recognized organizations that go beyond traditional safety programs to build cultures where preventing incidents, engaging employees and continuously improving workplace safety are part of how business gets done.
For Douglas, the recognition reflects a longstanding commitment to creating a safe and healthy workplace for its employee owners.
“Safety is not just a policy—it is a mindset, a way of operating, and a reflection of how deeply we value the people who bring our company to life every day,” said Joe Salo, President of Douglas. “I’m proud of the commitment our employee owners make to working safely, looking out for one another and continually finding ways to make Douglas an even safer place to work.”
To be considered for America’s Safest Companies, organizations must demonstrate excellence across a comprehensive range of safety practices, including leadership support for EHS efforts, employee involvement, innovative approaches to safety challenges, comprehensive training, effective safety communication and injury and illness rates below industry averages. Prevention must also be demonstrated as a key part of the organization’s safety process.
As a 100% employee-owned company, Douglas encourages employee owners throughout the organization to take an active role in creating a safer workplace. More than 20 safety teams engage approximately 18% of the company’s workforce, giving employee owners a direct role in establishing goals, identifying hazards and advancing safety initiatives.
“Being proactive is at the heart of our approach to safety,” said Craig Mast, Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Douglas. “We don’t want to wait for something to happen before we make an improvement. Our employee owners are empowered to identify hazards, bring forward ideas and take an active role in making Douglas safer. That level of engagement is what makes our safety culture successful.”
Douglas supports that engagement through ongoing employee-owner training, many active safety teams, and Continuous Innovation and Improvement projects focused on identifying and addressing safety opportunities. Employee owners also have access to an extensive library of safety training through Douglas University, along with hands-on instruction in areas such as lockout/tagout, machine guarding and electrical safety.
This national recognition comes during a significant year for safety at Douglas. In 2026, Douglas also achieved Minnesota Star (MNSTAR) certification through MN OSHA, recognizing the company for implementing a comprehensive safety and health management system that goes beyond basic compliance. Douglas has also received the Minnesota Safety Council’s Governor’s Safety Award for eight consecutive years, most recently earning the Gold Award in 2025.
Douglas joins AFL Telecommunications; Cushman & Wakefield—Global Occupier Services; Enerfab Power & Industrial; Forest Electric NJ; Greenfield Global USA; Rummel Construction; and West Wind Reinforcing as the America’s Safest Companies Class of 2026.
The eight honorees will be recognized during EHS Today’s “How to Create and Sustain a World-Class Safety Culture: Insights from America’s Safest Companies of 2026” awards presentation webinar on September 22. Best practices from the 2026 honorees will also be featured in the Fall 2026 issue of EHS Today and on EHS Today’s website.
Since its inception in 2002, America’s Safest Companies has honored more than 250 organizations for their commitment to worker safety, health and environmental stewardship.
To learn more about Douglas’ commitment to workplace safety, visit workatdouglas.com.
About EHS Today
Owned by EndeavorB2B, EHS Today is a leading U.S. B2B media brand for environmental, health and safety management professionals in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors.
