ABOUT STEP

Build your safety culture.
Measure your performance on key components.
Strengthen and expand best practices.

Founded in 1989 as a safety benchmarking and improvement tool, STEP has evolved into a world-class safety management system that dramatically improves safety performance among participants regardless of company size or type of work. Participating ABC member firms measure their safety processes and policies on 25 key components through a detailed questionnaire with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incidents.

STEP Improves Safety

STEP is a great tool for measuring our safety performance against the best of the best. We use it to make sure we are keeping up with the most current safety techniques. Nearly every advancement we have made in the area of safety has been because of our participation in the STEP process.

David Chapin
Willmar Electric Service
2016 ABC Chair

WHY Participate?

Every ABC member wants to send its workers home safely every night. Take the first step towards achieving world-class safety by participating in STEP, whether you are beginning your safety journey or continuing to strengthen your performance.

Getting started with STEP is free, and it can help you lower your workers compensation insurance rates.


Leadership Commitment to
World-class Safety

Cultural Transformation and Commitment to World-class Safety

World-class Safety System Process Introduced and Deployed

World Class Safety Gained

WHO Should Participate?

Commercial and industrial contractors as well as suppliers who want to make a commitment to achieving world-class safety performance who perform work in the following NAICS codes.



Commercial and Industrial Contractors Include

NAICS

236

Construction of Buildings

NAICS

237

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

NAICS

238

Specialty Trade Contractors

Members that are suppliers are welcome to apply!

STEP Improves Performance

Read ABC’s 2022 Safety Performance Report to understand the impact of STEP participation on safety performance. Packed with infographics and practical takeaways, the report documents the dramatic impact of using proactive safety practices to reduce recordable incidents by up to 84 percent, making the best-performing companies 645 percent safer than the industry average

HOW STEP Works

Participating companies score their level of achievement for each component on a weighted point scale and document their incident rates (TRIR). Companies receive a recognition level of Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze or Participant based on this data.

EVALUATE

current level of safety performance and begin the journey to world-class safety.

TRACK

safety performance year after year.

IMPLEMENT

specific best practices to transform your organizations safety culture.

BENCHMARK

safety performance with peers in the industry.

LEAD

company and workers by equipping them for safety success.

STEP Qualifications

Requirements for STEP Levels Participant Bronze Silver Gold Platinum Diamond
Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) N/A N/A No greater than 50% higher than the national BLS average At or below NAICS code average*** 25% below NAICS code average** 50% below NAICS code average*
OSHA Form 300A Previous year 300A Previous year 300A Previous year 300A Previous year 300A Previous year Previous 3 years
Fatalities N/A N/A N/A N/A None resulting in OSHA citations for the last 3 years None resulting in OSHA citations for the last 3 years
25 Key Components N/A Meets the minimum score Meets the minimum score Meets the minimum score Meets the minimum score Meets the minimum score
Participation Fee FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

STEP Qualifications Key
* Must be within the last 3 years; companies < 100 employees may use a 3-year average. Companies < 50 employees may use a 5-year average
** Must be within the last year; companies < 100 employees may use a 3-year average. Companies < 50 employees may use a 5-year average
*** Companies < 100 employees may use a 3-year average. Companies < 50 employees may use a 5-year average

Important Information


You can begin your journey here. A PDF version is available for review prior to completing the submission online.


Completed STEP forms are accepted until Dec. 15. In order to receive your certificate at your chapter’s event, please complete your forms by your local chapter’s deadline.
*Oct. 23 to be considered for Top Performers.

SAFETY Education

ABC’s chapters lead the way when it comes to offering safety education for the construction industry. From innovative and cutting edge topics to OSHA and client-required subject matter, ABC chapters have you covered!

Eligibility for the AQC Program

If you have achieved STEP Gold, Platinum or Diamond, you are eligible for ABC’s Accredited Quality Contractor program.

GET Recognized

STEP Diamond, Platinum, and Gold recipients are eligible for the ABC National Safety Excellence and the Construction Users Roundtable Construction Industry Safety Excellence Awards.

Call ABC’s Safety Department at (202) 595-1855 or email us at [email protected] if you have further questions about the STEP data submission process — we’re here to help!
© 2019 Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.