Northwest Control Company, Inc.

Northwest Control Co. (N.C.C.), a locally owned commercial contractor providing HVAC mechanical, boiler, controls, and maintenance solutions, has spent the past three years transforming its approach to employee safety. The evolution has been shaped by collaboration, creativity, and a strong return-to-work partnership with SAIF.

The catalyst for change came when Rex, a longtime HVAC service technician, was seriously injured on the job and unable to return to his former duties. N.C.C. worked closely with SAIF’s vocational consultants, return-to-work team, and the Preferred Worker Program to identify meaningful modified work. “We want to get an injured worker back into whatever type of modified duty we can,” said Kim Pfefer, human resources director. “Keeping an employee engaged increases the likelihood of returning to full duty more quickly.”

With more than 20 years of field experience, Rex was a natural fit for a new safety coordinator role, as it allowed him to bring firsthand knowledge of the risks technicians face daily. Paired with a supervisor who brought two decades of school district safety experience, the duo rebuilt N.C.C.’s safety program from the ground up. They developed a comprehensive safety handbook, established key processes, and became the on-site, boots-on-the-ground support that employees rely on today.

This hands-on approach has driven significant cultural change. With about 70 employees working across Portland, southwest Washington, and Oregon, N.C.C. needed a safety system rooted in accessibility and empowerment. Technicians now feel comfortable asking questions, raising concerns, and seeking help.

The impact is clear: employees know the company prioritizes their well-being, and they trust the safety resources available to them. What began as a single return-to-work solution has grown into a companywide commitment to safety—strengthened by partnership, experience, and a shared dedication to keeping every worker safe.