US company Square Robot won the 2026 Prevention through Design Award on 15 September 2026, presented at the National Safety Council Safety Congress & Expo in Indianapolis, United States. The award is organised by NIOSH, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the National Safety Council (NSC).
Inspecting without entering a confined space
Square Robot developed a fully submersible robotic inspection system that allows tanks to be inspected without workers having to enter the confined space. Because tanks remain sealed during inspection, emissions are reduced at the same time. According to the organisation, the technology has now been used to inspect 385 tanks, has kept more than 695 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained within tanks, and has reduced confined-space entries on these projects to zero.
Safety built into the design
NSC CEO Lorraine Martin praised Square Robot’s “innovative spirit and dogged commitment to eliminating confined space hazards” and said this kind of work shows “the impact that designing systems safely from the start can have on preventing injuries and fatalities.” Organisations wishing to nominate their own designs for the 2027 award can do so until 1 March 2027 via NIOSH’s PtD award website.
The underlying principle – designing hazards out rather than controlling them after the fact with personal protective equipment – is a core principle of “prevention through design,” recognised worldwide, regardless of jurisdiction, as one of the most effective forms of risk control.
Source: NIOSH and Partners Announce 2026 Prevention through Design Award Winner, 17 September 2026
