Ahern Honored with 2025 MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Award

Fond du Lac, WI, March 24, 2026 - Ahern has earned the 2025 Mechanical Contractors Association of America/CNA Insurance Safety Excellence Award, one of the highest recognitions in the mechanical contracting industry for safety performance and innovation.

"This award is a direct reflection of the people who live our safety values every day: our field and shop crews, leaders, safety team, and everyone who takes personal responsibility for sending themselves and their coworkers home safely," said President Tony Ahern. "Safety is not a box we check. It's a commitment we live out together every single day. I'm incredibly proud of how our teams look out for one another, support new employees, and take ownership of doing work the right way."

The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Award honors contractors that demonstrate strong safety systems, proven results, and ongoing improvement. Ahern's recognition reflects a companywide approach that combines structured programs, proactive planning, and a culture where employees at every level are engaged in safety.

Ahern's safety program is built on clear expectations and accountability. Initiatives help guide how work is planned and performed, while pre-task planning, safety conversations, leadership development, and digital monitoring tools strengthen visibility and decision-making across the organization.

Several initiatives helped distinguish Ahern's safety performance in 2025.

Ahern continued to strengthen support for short-service employees by providing orientation, initial training, and early check-ins for new hires. More than 448 employees completed onboarding and received a check-in within their first 10 days. Across the company, nearly 2,000 short-service employee check-ins were completed, with more than half conducted by non-safety personnel, underscoring shared ownership of safety. These efforts contributed to 10 fewer short-service employee recordable cases year over year.

The company also expanded hands-on apprentice safety training through a combination of classroom learning and practical instruction using training props developed by Ahern's safety team. Apprentices received training in Ahern Safety Fundamentals, Lifesaving Rules, Hazard Communication, Machine Guarding, and Lockout/Tagout, along with real-world hazard identification, safe body positioning, and silica mitigation techniques.

Ahern also continued advancing mental health as part of its broader safety commitment. After partnering with a workforce mental health benefit provider in 2024, the company has worked to further normalize and support mental well-being for employees and their families. In 2025, 9% of employees accessed care, compared with the 4% industry benchmark.

"This recognition shows what we can achieve when every person plays a role in strengthening our safety culture," said Chief Safety Officer Dustin Rusch. "Our people consistently step up to coach each other, engage in training, and speak up when something doesn't feel right. This award reflects the collective effort it takes to keep each other safe every day."

The award highlights Ahern's continued investment in protecting its people and reinforcing safety as a core part of how the company operates.

J. F. Ahern Co. is a mechanical and fire protection contractor specializing in HVAC, Plumbing, Controls, Sprinkler, Extinguisher & Alarm and Fabrication for construction and service projects. Founded in 1880, the company has over 1,850 employees servicing commercial and industrial customers across the United States. To keep up with the latest company news and events, visit jfahern.comor follow us on Facebookor LinkedIn.