The award recognizes 40 safety professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and commitment to safety, influence on safety culture and creations of safety initiatives producing measurable outcomes.

“Safety is one of AECOM’s core values, and we are committed to making a safety-focused mindset part of our employees’ lives every day,” said John M. Dionisio, AECOM chairman and chief executive officer. “I’m delighted that Russ is being recognized by the National Safety Council for his exemplary leadership qualities and commitment to safety.”

As part of his efforts to integrate a safety culture and behavior-based safety initiatives, Reynolds has introduced hazard assessments and controls for tasks commonly performed at work and home.

“I am working to impart a mindset about safety that reframes the message from ‘company required’ to ‘in my best interests,’” said Reynolds. “I take the approach that the way to perform tasks safely doesn’t change just because you’re not on the clock.  By using specific examples from my personal experiences, I believe I can more easily relate to peers who encounter the same situations.”’

Honorees were recognized on Nov. 1 at the 2011 National Awards Celebration held in conjunction with the NSC Congress & Expo – the largest U.S. annual gathering of safety professionals in Philadelphia on Oct. 31-Nov.4, among more than 10,000 of their safety peers.

The National Safety Council (nsc.org) works to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, education and advocacy.