Since Layton’s inception, safety has remained not just a key focus but one of our core values. Year after year, project after project, we strictly maintain those safety efforts—and we’ve developed a reputation for them. And though they remain grounded on keeping our employees, partners, clients, and the public safe, we are pleased to be recognized time and time again.
Now for the first time in our history, Layton Construction has received national recognition for our safety efforts—earning a prestigious Construction Safety Excellence Award (CSEA) from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Layton was one of only a handful of top U.S. construction companies who were honored last week at the AGC Annual Convention in Columbus, Ohio.
The CSEA is the AGC’s highest safety award, going beyond traditional metrics like incident rates to assess company culture, leadership, employee participation, training programs, hazard control, and innovation. The award’s purpose is to recognize construction companies who not only achieve great safety performance but push the industry forward.
A Culture Rooted in Safety
“We are grateful to the AGC for this recognition,” said CEO David Layton. “Safety has always been part of Layton’s culture since our founding in 1953. In fact, Dad used to say, ‘We do it safe or we don’t do it!’ Safety is a value that anchors our other three company values of Honesty, Unity, and Quality. I want to thank all our jobsite leaders for setting the standard for how our culture is embraced by everyone on site. None of this would be possible without your leadership.”
This national recognition reflects the hard work, accountability, and commitment of every person at Layton. It’s more than a trophy—it’s a reflection of The Layton Way.
What Set Layton Apart
Layton’s application stood out to the AGC judges for several key reasons:
- Our culture of safety focused on field engagement
- Strong and visible leadership commitment
- A relentless focus on continual improvement
Our application was submitted in the highest manhours worked category for Construction Management—a level that positioned us against the best in the industry. Of the 168 companies that applied, Layton was one of about 60 finalists asked to present their safety programs and performance live in front of a panel of judges.
Leadership Commitment at Every Level
“This honor recognizes our long-term efforts to work and live safely,” said COO Paul Drecksel. “The absolute commitment of executive leadership, the National Safety Leadership Team, our superintendents, safety managers, project engineers, trade partners, and laborers to work safely literally saves lives. We are proud to be among the safest contractors in the industry.”
Driving Results, Focused on People
“This award highlights our culture of safety and puts a spotlight on all our hard-working project teams,” said Dan Saddler, vice president of Safety. “Over the years, our focus on leading indicators has enabled us to improve and produce better outcomes on our projects. As a result, we’ve seen incident rates and lost-time injuries steadily go down. Of course, those are just numbers. The real benefit is having everyone everyday go home to their families safely. Our next steps include a dialed-in approach to improving daily planning and front-line leadership engagement.”
Have questions about Layton’s safety initiatives? Or have a project coming up? Read more about our values and get in touch with one of our team to discuss.
About the AGC
The AGC is a leading national trade association representing the interests of the construction industry and more than 27,000 companies. According to its website, the AGC was founded in 1918 and has a nationwide network of chapters. Its mission is to promote the industry through advocacy, education, and collaboration, ensuring construction professionals and the public benefit from high-quality construction.
About Layton Construction
Layton Construction is a privately held national general contractor, delivering predictable outcomes in commercial construction since 1953. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Layton operates from 16 strategic offices across the United States, employing more than 1,400 construction professionals who serve diverse markets including healthcare, education, commercial office, industrial, hospitality, and multi-unit residential. Founded on the core values of honesty, unity, safety, and quality, Layton has built a reputation for excellence in complex project delivery while maintaining strong partnerships with clients, architects, and trade partners nationwide.
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