Integrated Electrical Services Announced as a 2009 Merit Winner at 2010 Associated Builders and Contractors National Convention

HOUSTON, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Integrated Electrical Services Commercial (Nasdaq: IESC), (www.ies-co.com), a leading national provider of electrical and communications services, announced today that it was presented the prestigious ABC National Safety Excellence Award on Thursday, February 4, 2010 during the 20th Annual Excellence In Construction banquet at the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) National Convention in San Diego, CA. IES was among only 23 winners to receive a Merit award from ABC's membership of more than 25,000 contractor members. IES is being recognized in the Section 7 category for Specialty Contractors with more than two million man-hours worked. Harvey Hammock, vice president for safety at IES, and Robert Warwick, general manager of the East Division for IES, were on-hand to accept the award on behalf of IES.

In 2009, 2,231 ABC contractor members applied for the Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) program.  801 of those earned the prestigious STEP Platinum status, given to companies displaying the highest levels of safety performance and long-term commitment to jobsite safety.  The ABC National Safety Excellence Award places only 23 ABC contractor members as the pinnacle for merit shop construction safety in the U.S.

The criteria for determining the winners was based on data submitted via STEP Platinum applications, company interviews and site visits. Award categories were based on a company's total work-hours per calendar year and placement within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

"IES is part of a select group of ABC contractor members whose achievements in the field of construction safety are truly exceptional," said Chris Williams, director of safety at ABC.  "The Excellence in Construction Awards celebration honors the most innovative and high quality construction projects and safety programs in the nation."

"We are honored to be recognized by ABC," said Michael Caliel, IES president and chief executive officer.  "This award is considered across our industry as one of the premier measures of a company's safety performance, and all of us at IES recognize the importance of work-site safety to the successful completion of construction projects. Safety is at the foundation of the IES culture, and our employees are steadfast in their commitment to implementing programs and procedures that bring about exceptional safety performance."

The award from ABC continues to add to an impressive resume being built by one of the nation's largest specialty contractors. Other safety-related awards received since 2008 include:

• ABC STEP Gold and Platinum Level Award
• Great Plains Contractor Vanguard of Safety Award of Honor
• IEC-CNA 2009 Safety Award
• Construction Users Round Table (CURT) 2009 Safety Award
• ABC Excellence in Construction Award for the Monsanto Seed Project
• AGC Contractor's Safety Excellence Award
• Clancy & Theys Construction Gold Safety Star Award
• 2009 Gold Hard Hat Award from Colorado Construction magazine

ABOUT IES

IES is a leading national provider of electrical and communications contracting solutions for the commercial, industrial and residential markets. From office buildings to wind farms to housing developments, IES designs, builds and maintains electrical and communications systems for a diverse array of customers, projects and locations. For more information about IES, please visit www.ies-co.com.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS (ABC)

ABC is a 60-year-old national association representing nearly 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 78 chapters across the United States.  The National Safety Excellence Award competition was established in 1992 by the ABC National Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Committee to recognize exceptional achievements in the field of construction safety and training.  Applicants are required to exhibit long-term commitment to providing cutting-edge safety training to employees, continuous evaluation and evolution of their safety programs and employer-employee involvement in cultivating a "culture of safety" through their company.  For more information about ABC, please visit www.abc.org.  

SOURCE Integrated Electrical Services, Inc.