Port of Portland honored with 3rd annual Prevention through Design Award

New Orleans — In recognition of its “outstanding leadership” in reducing workplace hazards through design methods, the Port of Portland is the winner of the 2023 Prevention through Design Award.

The third annual award was presented in person for the first time during a ceremony Monday at the 2023 NSC Safety Congress & Expo. The ceremony was a collaborative effort of NIOSH, the National Safety Council, the American Society of Safety Professionals and the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

Prevention through Design, or PtD, seeks to protect workers by limiting risks and reducing hazards as soon as possible during the work process – specifically in the design phase. The annual PtD Award recognizes individuals, teams, businesses and other organizations that have eliminated or reduced hazards through design or redesign efforts – or have contributed to the body of knowledge that enables PtD solutions.

The Port of Portland – the port authority responsible for overseeing the Portland International Airport and operating other transportation infrastructure in Portland, OR – is recognized for following PtD methods during a $325 million project for five facilities at the airport.

“With their inventiveness, dedication and tenacity – all in the name of safety – there can be no doubt that the Port of Portland has earned this award,” said NSC President and CEO Lorraine M. Martin. “Their commitment to the safety and well-being of their employees, as well as the generation that will follow them, is inspiring.”

The other nominees for this year’s award were the Automotive Lift Institute; 3M in Menomonie, WI; Jack Dolan-Brown, who works full-time in the Texas oil fields while pursuing a safety and health doctoral degree; and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Nomination instructions for the fourth annual PtD Award are now available on the award’s website. Nominations are due the first weekday of April.