Since J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. began the SPOTY Awards in 2002, the program has grown to be a highly prestigious recognition of the often unsung environmental, health and safety (EHS) heroes who dedicate their careers to ensuring employees return home safely to their families at the end of each shift.

The SPOTY Awards’ official rules include:

•    Three Award Categories Based on Size of Organization. The SPOTY Awards recognize outstanding safety professionals in three categories based on company size: Small, Medium, and Large. Awards will be presented to one winner in each category, recognizing the diverse challenges safety professionals face within their organizations.

•    Safety Professionals in the U.S. and Canada Eligible. 

•    Open to Customers of J. J. Keller. The SPOTY Awards are open only to safety professionals whose companies are customers of J. J. Keller. This reflects a recognition of the companies’ commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

•    Choice in Prize Packages. Each SPOTY winner will be able to choose a key element of their prize package based on their preference and needs. Depending on what they choose, a winner’s prize package could be valued at up to $47,200.

The following prizes will be awarded to each SPOTY Award winner in each size category (for the highest scoring submission complying with Official Rules):

•    Donation of USD $1,000 to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization selected by the winner

•    A SPOTY Awards plaque

•    USD $750 toward J. J. Keller® SAFEGEAR® PPE

A choice of one of the following:

•    A free one-year subscription to the J. J. Keller® Safety Management Suite for the winner and their staff (up to 10 users), including 500 e-learning training enrollments per user, plus data sharing across users (to be used by May 31, 2027)

•    A free one-year membership to the J. J. Keller® Compliance Network, including the winner’s choice of a Hazmat Edge or Environmental Edge upgrade

•    A free one-year Advanced Plus subscription to the J. J. Keller® Training Management Service, with up to 2,499 enrollments and a virtual reality headset

•    A free one-year, one-seat subscription to J. J. Keller® Leave Manager, with the integration of the winner’s HRIS system

The judging panel for the SPOTY Awards comprises representatives from J. J. Keller’s extensive staff of experts in safety and compliance.

Winners will be publicly announced via a media release in September 2026 and will be featured in a J. J. Keller webcast in October 2026.

For more information, visit jjkeller.com.