Safety in Action® Conference ICON Awards

Celebrating 10 Years of Bold Safety Leadership

Who’s advancing safety through bold ideas and real-world impact?

Tell us who’s inspiring real change.

The Safety in Action® Conference ICON Awards honor individuals and organizations who are reshaping the safety landscape through passion, innovation, and lasting impact.

Now in its 10th year, the ICON Awards recognize those who lead by example—on the frontlines or behind the scenes—and inspire others to build safer workplaces and communities.

Do you know someone who consistently goes above and beyond to protect others and push for progress?

Nominate them today and help us spotlight the leaders who make safety personal, powerful, and transformational.

Key Dates: Final deadlines and award ceremony details coming soon.

✨ Shine a light on someone who’s making a difference.

Submit your nomination (dates TBA) and join us in celebrating a decade of safety leadership that inspires us all.

DEKRA President and CEO John Tesoro presents the 2026 ICON Award to
Dwayne Chapel, Safety Coordinator at Sacramento Municipal Utility District

What Makes a Safety ICON?

ICON Awards recognize individuals who:

  • Lead by example 
  • Inspire safer workplaces 
  • Drive meaningful change 
  • Demonstrate innovation 
  • Create lasting impact on people and organizations 

Nominations Open: August 1, 2026

Submission Deadline: January 29, 2027

Finalists Notified: February 2027

ICON Awards Presentation: General Session, Safety in Action 2027

Meet Previous ICON Award Recipients

For ten years, Safety in Action has recognized individuals whose leadership, innovation,
and commitment have made a lasting impact on workplace safety. 

Dwayne Chapel

Safety Coordinator
Sacramento Municipal Utility District

 

The Asociación Chilena de Seguridad (ACHS)

Company Winner


Matt Garner

Vice President - Health, Safety, Environment and Regulatory
Expand Energy

Terms & Conditions

Safety in Action® Conference ICON Terms & Conditions

No purchase is necessary to nominate a Safety Icon or to be recognized as a Safety ICON.

  1. Eligibility. The Safety ICON nomination process is open to nominators and nominees who are at least 18 years of age as of August 1, 2027. Employees or contractors of DEKRA, as well as citizens of ineligible countries, are not eligible to nominate, be nominated, or be recognized as a Safety Icon. An “ineligible country” means any country in which U.S. companies are prohibited to engage in business by OFAC or where the Safety Icon program or these terms and conditions are prohibited by law or regulation.
  2. Nomination Period. The 2027 nomination period will open on a date to be announced. There is currently no deadline for submissions. Updates will be posted on the Safety in Action website.
  3. How to Nominate. To nominate yourself or someone else as a Safety ICON, go to the official Nomination Form and complete all required elements. Nominations must be submitted online.
  4. Selection. At the close of the nomination period, a panel of judges selected by DEKRA will evaluate submissions and select what they deem, in their sole discretion, to be the 2027 Safety ICONs. Selected nominees and their nominators will be notified ahead of the Safety in Action® Conference. Safety ICONs and their nominators are responsible for arranging and covering any travel expenses (including visas, if required) should they choose to attend the event.
  5. Promotional  Release. The nominator retains the copyright to their submission. However, by submitting a nomination, the nominator grants DEKRA a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, and irrevocable license to use the contents of the nomination, including name, country, biographical information, likeness, and photograph, in any media now known or developed in the future for promotional or publicity purposes without additional review, compensation, or approval, unless prohibited by law. Selected Safety Icons may be asked to sign a publicity release form.
  6. Personal Information. By submitting a nomination, participants agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information in accordance with DEKRA’s Privacy Policy. Non-U.S. residents acknowledge and agree that their personal data may be transferred to the United States for the purposes of administering the Safety ICON program.
  7. General. By participating, nominators and nominees agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and all decisions made by DEKRA, which shall be final. Participants confirm that all information provided is accurate and their own original work. DEKRA is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete entries, or for any technical issues related to hardware, software, or internet connectivity. All participants release DEKRA, its representatives, and affiliates from any liability connected to participation in the program.
  8. Sponsor. DEKRA.

By submitting a nomination, I acknowledge and accept these Terms and Conditions for the 2027 Safety in Action® ICON program and agree to DEKRA’s Privacy Policy regarding the use of my personal data.