PLANET, the national trade association that represents landscape industry companies has announced the new Safety Recognition Award recipients.

The Professional Landcare Network, and program sponsor CNA, a business insurance company, has announced the new Safety Recognition Award recipients.

Awards acknowledge landscape industry professionals who consistently demonstrate their commitment to safety. All landscape industry companies and branches are eligible to enter PLANET's Safety Recognition Awards Program whether they are members or not.

''PLANET and CNA work together through this program to help companies maintain the highest safety standards,'' said Craig Clark, chair of PLANET's Safety Committee. ''These awards are an important way to recognize and encourage those companies that are excelling.''

This year, 158 companies submitted entries and 359 awards were earned for the performance period from Jan. 1, 2012, through Dec. 13, 2012.

Award categories include ''No Vehicle Accidents,'' ''No Injuries or Illnesses,'' and ''No Days Away From Work.'' Companies that participated in previous programs were also eligible for the ''Most Improved'' category.

The ''Overall Safety Achievement'' award honors those companies with high-performing safety programs that create and maintain safe work environments in the landscape industry. Companies are eligible for this award if they demonstrate outstanding safety performance in the workplace based on their combined fleet and employee incident rates.

The ''Best of the Best'' award was earned by the following companies who, for the past three years, have maintained the ''Overall Safety Achievement Award – Gold Level'' status:

• A Cut Above Landscape Management – Fortson, Ga.
• Ecolawn, Inc. - Eastlake, Ohio
• Fox Run Nurseries, Inc. - Alexandria, Va.
• Greenleaf Services, Inc. – Linville, N.C.
• Keep It Green Landscaping – Fair Lawn, N.J.
• KIRA, Inc.-Mayport/RBOSII – Jacksonville, Fla.
• Leo's landscaping – West Bridgewater, Mass.
• No Ka Oi Landscape Services - Hanapepe, Hawaii