NUCA Safety Award: Overall Winner & 100,001 to 200,000 Manhours – DeKalb Pipeline Co.

By Robert Baylor, NUCA Director of Communications

SafetyWORKS is a regular column highlighting NUCA’s William H. Feather Safety Awards winners. If you would like your company to be considered for these prestigious NUCA awards this year, please submit your entry by the end of December 2025. Award details can be found at nuca.com/events/annual-awards/.

Incorporated in 1960, DeKalb Pipeline Company has built over the last 65 years much of the heavy civil infrastructure throughout DeKalb County and Atlanta, Georgia.

This NUCA member company has also built a world-class safety program for its employees. This kind of achievement requires careful planning, just like it does for its many projects. DeKalb’s program, meticulously overseen by a dedicated full-time safety director, is not merely a set of guidelines but a proactive culture woven into every facet of the company’s work.

DeKalb Pipeline has been a NUCA member for almost 35 years. Much of the foundation of DeKalb’s safety program came from the input of industry safety experts like Greg Shrudwick and George Kennedy. These no-nonsense guys instilled the desire for the protection of employees, no matter what. DeKalb focuses on trench safety and confined space training, but extends to driving, equipment training, and general shop safety. In addition to regular job site assessments and toolbox talks, Dekalb dedicates one day per quarter to some form of specific company-wide training. Another real game changer for company employee safety came with the decision years ago to be an aggressive, drug-free place of employment.

Excavation hazards, confined spaces, and equipment operation demand rigorous protocols to prevent accidents, protect workers, and ensure project continuity. DeKalb’s comprehensive approach—encompassing daily safety oversight, detailed planning, and open communication—set a benchmark for the industry.

Safety as a company culture is something to be celebrated. “Like yeast, it permeates all aspects of who you are as a company if done correctly and emphasized from the top. When you start to see the employees holding each other accountable for safety, you know you have succeeded. This has been evident for years now at DeKalb,” wrote company representative Beth Kendall.  

DeKalb has an exceptional safety record with over a decade-and-a-half without a loss-time accident. This has resulted in a low Experience Modification Rate (EMR), and the ability to be considered for some of the most safety stringent projects in the region.

To achieve these superlative results, Dekalb places an emphasis on employee training to increase competency, safety, and productivity. The company and its employees attend multiple training classes throughout the year. These sessions cover topics such as PPE usage, health hazards on the jobsite, excavation risks, confined space, competent person, OSHA 10 hour, emergency reaction, silica/respirators, pedestrian safety, employee accidents/injury reporting and treatment, and traffic control & flagging.

Additionally, DeKalb’s participation in the NUCA-STAR safety evaluation program has strengthened its safety framework, providing external validation and continuous improvement opportunities.

“Safety doesn’t happen by accident, it is a culture based on commitment. It must be an intentional focus at the top leadership. As much as leadership focuses on profitability and the bottom line, they must also focus on the safety of their people. At DeKalb, our purpose is to ‘enhance the lives of our employees and the communities we serve.’ We take this statement very seriously. That ‘enhancing the employees’ lives’ starts by ensuring they return home each day the same way they arrived at work. This is priority one,” said James King, DeKalb’s president/owner.

DeKalb Pipeline has earned NUCA’s William H. Feather Award in 1997, 2001-2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020-2021, and was the Overall Winner in 2024. Our association’s leadership is proud that their years of hard work and careful attention led to their achievement of the industry’s top safety award.

Ensuring their employees make it home each night the same way they arrive each morning is a significant priority of Dekalb Pipeline, as their leadership writes on their website. Other utility construction companies can draw inspiration from DeKalb’s model. By investing in professional safety programs, prioritizing ongoing training, and incentivizing compliance, firms can cultivate a culture where safety is paramount.

NUCA was proud to award the company its 2024 Overall Winner of the William H. Feather Safety Award at its 2025 Convention in Orlando, Florida, and knows that this Georgia contractor will return once again to this award’s platform.