In the construction industry, no resource is greater than our employees, and ABC members take pride in sending their workers home safe every night. Safety is everyone’s priority, and improving jobsite safety is a continuous process that ABC member companies participate in every day.
That’s why ABC created the Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) – to not only recognize ABC member companies who consistently excel in the field of safety, but—more importantly—to provide an evaluation tool to help identify areas in which contractors can work to reach the ultimate goal—sending every worker home safe to their families every day.
ABC’s STEP: Building Safety.
Background Information on the ABC Safety Training & Evaluation Process (STEP)
What is the STEP Program?
o STEP was created in 1989 by the ABC National Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Committee to recognize ABC member companies with exceptional safety records.
o There are four levels of achievement in the STEP program: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
o STEP Platinum recipients represent:
§ Companies with a proven track record of safety—those who have achieved the STEP Gold or Platinum level the previous year
§ Around 500 ABC member companies, or about 2% of all ABC members
§ Companies with OSHA recordable incident rates well below the national average
o STEP Platinum winners are automatically eligible for the ABC National Safety Excellence Awards (NSEA), ABC’s highest level of recognition in the field of safety training. Platinum winners are also eligible for the Construction Users’ Round Table (CURT) Construction Industry Safety Excellence (CISE) award.
o STEP provides ABC contractor members with a consistent, effective tool to evaluate safety training programs by using 20 standard “key components” of safety. Each key component focuses on specific safety and training areas essential to a successful, effective safety training program.
o STEP highlights not only a company’s safety and training successes, but also helps to identify areas where companies can improve their efforts to build a stronger safety program.
o STEP recognizes companies that go above and beyond OSHA requirements for a safe workplace!
What are the benefits of participating in the STEP Program?
o STEP helps members evaluate their safety training programs and areas where they can improve.
o STEP helps companies reduce workers’ compensation costs by building a stronger, more effective safety training program.
o STEP can be used as a long-term evaluator of a company’s progress in building and maintaining their safety training program.
o STEP provides recognition for ABC members who consistently provide a safe work environment not only to employees, but to customers as well.
How can your company get involved in STEP?
o Simply fill out the evaluation form, available through your local chapter or on the ABC website (http://www.abc.org/step). All you’ll need is a pen and you OSHA Form 300A from the previous year.
o STEP applications are accepted by ABC National year-round so that ALL ABC member companies can get involved and reap the many benefits of the STEP program.
For more information, contact your local ABC Chapter or ABC’s Safety Department at (703) 812-2016 or safety@abc.org.