AGC names Doug Edrington 2025 Construction Safety Champion of the Year
BY CHRISTINE PREUSLER
When Doug Edrington, construction manager at Texas-based TDIndustries, Inc., reflects on being named the AGC Construction Safety Champion of the Year (CSCY), he doesn’t see a personal triumph. To him, the award is the product of a team-wide commitment to the safety and well-being of everyone at his company. “It’s not about me — it’s about the people we protect,” Edrington, who accepted the award in January at the AGC’s Construction Safety & Health Conference in Jacksonville, Florida, said.
Each year, AGC of America and Milwaukee Tool present the CSCY award to honor construction professionals with an exceptional dedication to creating injury-free jobsites, advancing safety with innovative ideas and leading the implementation of safety programs at all levels. Edrington’s recognition as the 2025 CSCY winner reflects his passion for doing just that. “I truly believe that being a true champion, to borrow from one of TDIndustries’ core values, means fiercely protecting the safety of all,” he said.
From Science Teacher to Construction Leader
Edrington’s path into the construction industry was anything but conventional. He started as a high school science teacher, where he discovered his love for teaching and leadership. In 2007, after seven years in education, he made the leap to the facilities services and mechanical construction industry.
“Most of the time, they’ve already come up with the answers,” Edrington said.
A Transformative Pressure Testing Program and Policy
Edrington’s deep understanding of the workforce led him to develop impactful safety initiatives at TDIndustries, with one of his most significant contributions focused on mitigating pressure testing hazards. In 2019, a series of near misses — including multiple blowouts and water releases during testing on a significant project — prompted immediate action.
Driven by his passion for learning, Edrington collaborated with field employees, engineers and manufacturers to uncover the root causes of the issues. This collaboration revealed a gap in press fitting training that had persisted across the industry for two decades.
Edrington’s solution to this systemic problem was a comprehensive, enterprise-wide pressure testing policy and kit designed for easy jobsite deployment. “Safety doesn’t have to slow things down — it can improve efficiency if done right,” he said. “Making safety easier to follow means workers are more likely to comply.”
Edrington launched the TDIndustries Quality Assessment and Quality Control (QAQC) training program to ensure successful implementation in 2020. Despite setbacks caused by the pandemic, the initiative expanded in 2021 and evolved into a comprehensive training program adopted across the company in early 2024.
Structured similarly to a science lab, the training program features two distinct parts: one classroom-based to provide foundational knowledge and the other in the field, where participants can apply learning in real-world scenarios.
Edrington developed the pressure testing kit itself through a commitment to simplicity and accessibility. A product of extensive employee feedback, the kit went through nine iterations before being finalized and ready for use. It includes all essential resources, such as gauges, pressure testing tape, lock-out/tag-out kits and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), ensuring workers have everything they need for safe and efficient testing.
“By removing barriers to safety compliance, we created a tool that makes it simple for workers to follow best practices without hesitation,” Edrington said.
Since the policy’s implementation, TDIndustries has experienced zero pressure testing incidents across all its projects.
Safety and Workforce Development
Edrington’s influence at TDIndustries goes beyond pressure testing to address another critical concern in construction: fall hazards. Recognizing that the accessibility of proper fall protection gear can significantly reduce risky behavior, Edrington provides new hires with their own fall protection kit valued at several hundred dollars. By removing barriers that might cause workers to take shortcuts or delay safety measures, the kit ensures safety is both accessible and prioritized.
In addition to overseeing fall protection initiatives, Edrington manages TDIndustries’ North Texas tool program, which boasts a multi-million dollar inventory supporting up to 65 active projects at any given time. This inventory equips between 650 and 750 field employees with the necessary tools to perform their work safely.
“If safety issues arise with tools or equipment, we address them immediately, ensuring everything is up to code,” Edrington said. “We then incorporate the insights into our training programs to continually improve safety across the board.”
For Edrington, leadership also involves nurturing the next generation of construction professionals. He has been instrumental in mentoring students in the e-tech construction science program at Wilmer Hutchins High School in North Texas. Each year, Edrington brings students to the TD Exchange, a central training hub for TDIndustries’ North Texas operations he helped conceptualize, to introduce them to the trades and emphasize the importance of workplace safety.
“The goal of the TD Exchange is to exchange knowledge, skills and best practices,” Edrington said. “It’s not just about apprenticeship training; it’s about tackling ongoing issues, such as safety concerns and system installation problems. Over time, I learned how to bridge those gaps and created a training curriculum that fills the voids in traditional training, especially in safety.”
Edrington’s mentorship extends to TDIndustries’ workforce, where he works closely with every new hire, assessing their skills and ensuring they receive the proper training to succeed.
A Culture of Zero Harm
Beyond his work at TDIndustries, Edrington is deeply engaged in the broader construction industry. He serves on advisory boards for multiple educational institutions, including the Texas Education Agency, where he helps shape curricula that align with industry safety standards.
He also works closely with manufacturers like Uponor to improve tool safety and develop training programs that equip workers to handle new equipment safely.
“We have to look at everything through a different lens, constantly improving and innovating,” Edrington said.
Ultimately, Edrington’s approach to safety is built on simplicity and practicality, creating a culture where safety is prioritized, workers feel supported and valued and there is an emphasis on shared responsibility.
Over the years, his leadership style has become deeply embedded in the culture at TDIndustries, with his unwavering commitment to the safety of every individual encapsulated in the mantra, “TD Equals Zero.”
“It’s the ‘safety champion spirit’ at TDIndustries that drives awareness, planning, collaboration and innovation to ensure our partners and everyone we work with achieve zero harm,” Edrington said. “Zero tears from that little girl because dad can’t pick her up due to injuring his back. Zero disappointment for that little boy wanting to play soccer, but mom can’t go because she twisted her ankle. Zero sleepless nights, wondering how to support a family due to an injury.”