ABC member companies that participate in the Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) receive 70 percent fewer citations per inspection and have an overall fatality rate that is 59 percent lower than the national Bureau of Labor Statistics average for the construction industry, according to an analysis of STEP participation in 2009. STEP participants also have an incidence rate that is 41 percent lower than the national average for construction. 

As of Oct. 1, a record 2,196 ABC contractor members had applied to participate in the STEP program and more than 35 percent of those applications were for Platinum status – the highest level achievable in STEP.

ABC's STEP program evaluates applications based on safety performance and the applicant’s score on the “20 Key Components,” ABC’s innovative safety evaluation system and awards them either Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum status.  To complete a STEP application, a member company needs their current OSHA 300 and 300A forms.   

In addition, by participating in the STEP program, ABC member companies become eligible to apply for Accredited Quality Contractor status and STEP Platinum recipients are eligible to apply for the prestigious National Safety Excellence Award, presented annually at the Excellence in Construction Awards ceremony in Washington, DC. 

To fill out a STEP application, click here. 

For more information, contact Chris Williams at ABC, cwilliams@abc.org.