Bel-Aire Mechanical Named 2026 SMACNA Safety Innovator of the Year

Bel-Aire Mechanical, LLC, a Legence Company, has been named the 2026 SMACNA Safety Innovator of the Year. The award will be presented during the SMACNA Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, on Monday, October 26.

The Safety Innovator of the Year Award, presented in collaboration with SMACNA Premier Partners Milwaukee Tool and Federated Insurance, honors a company that demonstrates an innovative safety idea, concept, or best practice that has led to measurable improvement in its safety program or culture.

Bel-Aire Mechanical received this recognition for its innovative use of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to enhance its health and safety program. By redesigning the pre-task planning process with the SmartTagIt app, Bel-Aire captures field-level safety conversations and uses AI to transcribe and analyze them. This provides Safety and Project Management teams with actionable insights into hazard recognition, planning, employee engagement, and areas for improvement.

Instead of using pre-task planning as a checklist, Bel-Aire developed a process focused on meaningful conversations. AI reviews key elements such as hazard identification, mental health check-ins, planning, and positive reinforcement, creating a continuous feedback loop for proactive coaching and increased management accountability. This approach has made safety conversations more visible, measurable, and improvable, while promoting peer-to-peer learning and a culture where employees feel respected and heard.

The results have been substantial. In 2025, Bel-Aire recorded over 800,000 man-hours with no recordable incidents and achieved a 40% reduction in near-misses and incidents. The company also improved conversation quality by 40%, with Question Quality 40% above the national benchmark and Planning 20% above the benchmark. More than 1.5 million work hours have been tracked through the platform, providing data that supports ongoing safety improvements. This innovative approach has also helped secure several high-value data center construction contracts.

“We are honored to receive the 2026 SMACNA Safety Innovator of the Year Award. At Bel-Aire Mechanical, a Legence Company, safety is not just a priority - it is the foundation of our culture. This recognition belongs to every employee whose commitment to Safety, Quality, and Production as one mindset has created an environment where innovation thrives, and everyone is empowered to ensure each person returns home safely every day,” said Scott Kienast, EHS Director, Bel-Aire Mechanical.

As part of the Safety Innovator of the Year Award, SMACNA, in collaboration with Premier Partners Milwaukee Tool and Federated Insurance, donates to a charity chosen by the winner. This year, Bel-Aire Mechanical selected Merging Vets & Players (MVP), a nonprofit organization that brings together veterans and former professional athletes to provide community, connection, and support as they navigate the transition to life after service or professional sports.

Through its innovative use of technology and its continued focus on meaningful employee engagement, Bel-Aire Mechanical demonstrates how AI can complement the human side of safety. Its approach is helping create safer, smarter, and more connected teams while providing a model for how innovation can drive continuous improvement across the construction industry.