STEP: Roadmap to Safety Success

1. STEP: Roadmap to Safety Success ABC National Environment, Health & Safety Committee

2. What is STEP? • Created in 1989 by the ABC National Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Committee to recognize ABC member companies with exceptional safety records. • Four levels of achievement in the STEP program: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. • 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.

3. Benefits of STEP • Helps members evaluate their safety training programs and identify areas of improvement. • Helps companies reduce workers’ compensation costs by building a stronger, more effective safety training program. • Provides recognition for ABC members who consistently provide a safe work environment not only to employees, but to customers as well.

4. What do I need to get involved? • Current-year STEP application workbook • Completed OSHA Form 300A (“Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses”) • http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf • Complete knowledge of your company’s safety training program • Pen, pencil or computer • 30 minutes or less That’s it—you’re ready to get started!

5. Section 1 – Company Information • Company Name. Company’s official name as indicated in ABC member database • Business Unit. Enter specific branch office / division of company if you are applying separate from parent company or national office • NAICS Code. Refer to chart in application book for NAICS code which best describes type of construction activity company performs • Work Type. Percentage of residential, commercial and / or industrial work performed by applicant • Proximity of Work to Headquarters. Amount of work performed within 0-100, 101-250 & beyond 250 miles from applicant’s main office / headquarters • ABC Chapter. List ABC chapter of record which company is currently a member

6. Section 2 – Safety Performance Data • Lines a through h: Use your competed 2007 OSHA Form 300A (“Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses”) to provide this data. Information in parentheses refers to lines on the OSHA Form 300A. • Note that (b) and (c) ask for CASES, while (e) and (f) ask for DAYS. Also, complete (g) and (h) using this information from your 2007 OSHA Form 300A. • Line i: Contact your workers compensation insurance carrier to obtain your Experience Modification Rate (EMR, or “mod factor”). • Line j: Add the results of lines a,b,c, and d to find your total number of OSHA recordable injuries

7. Section 2 – Safety Performance Data • “Focus Four data”. Use your completed 2007 OSHA Form 300 to enter the number of recordable incidents that involved falls, caught in/between injuries, struck-by injuries and electrical injuries. Enter these numbers into the respective blanks. • Number of Federal/State OSHA citations issued in 2007. Count all citations issued originally, regardless of whether or not any/all were eventually deleted or dismissed. In cases where a specific location or division of a company is submitting this application individually, include only the number of citations issued to your specific location or division. • Number of Federal/State OSHA citations tossed out in 2007. Enter the total number of OSHA citations that were completely tossed out (deleted or dismissed) as a result of subsequent negotiations or court proceedings. Do NOT count citations that have been simply reclassified or reduced in penalty. In cases where a specific location or division of a company is submitting this application individually, include only the number of citations tossed out for your specific location or division.

8. Section 2 – Safety Performance Data • Length of Safety Orientation (in minutes). Indicate the length of your company’s safety orientation, or the number of minutes devoted to safety during your company’s new employee orientation. • Frequency of Toolbox Talks: Indicate whether or not you conduct regular (no less than monthly) toolbox safety talks, and how frequently they are conducted. If you do not conduct Toolbox Talks, enter “N/A” • Do you have a substance abuse program? Indicate whether or not your company has a program designed to screen for substance and alcohol abuse. • Scope of Operations: Enter the percentage of work performed within local area (100 miles), regional area (101-250 miles) and of national scope (beyond 250 miles) of your location.

9. Section 3 – 20 Key Components Self-Assessment • Use the STEP application workbook’s “20 Key Components” section to rate your company’s current safety training efforts • Enter scores from each question into corresponding blanks on STEP application and enter total score • Remember…BE HONEST! All information on your STEP application is CONFIDENTIAL. The goal of STEP is to help you determine what areas you can improve upon to make your company and jobsites safer!

10. Section 4 – Company / Chapter Certifications • The person who certifies that the information on this form is complete and accurate should print their name and title, and sign on the appropriate lines. If that person also completed this form, another management-level employee should confirm the application. • ABC Chapter representative confirmation: After you have completed your STEP application, forward the STEP Submittal Sheet to your local ABC chapter. Once received, your ABC chapter representative will endorse the form and forward it to the ABC National safety office. Applications received without the endorsement of the local ABC chapter will not be considered. That’s it! Your STEP application is now complete.

11. Applying for STEP Platinum - Benefits • STEP Platinum award winners are eligible for ABC’s National Safety Excellence Award (NSEA), as well as for the Construction Users Roundtable Construction Industry Safety Excellence (CURT/CISE) Award. • STEP Platinum level is open to applicants who received Gold or Platinum STEP level the previous year.

12. Applying for STEP Platinum - Requirements • Received STEP Gold or STEP Platinum award in previous year. • Have a Twenty Key Components score at or above the Platinum qualifying level. • Have an Incidence Rate in year 2005, 2006 or 2007 that is equal to or less than the industry average for your NAICS code, as listed in Table 1 on page 5. Total number of OSHA Recordables x 200,000 Incidence Rate = Total Hours Worked by All Employees • Have written site-specific safety and health programs. • Incorporate employee involvement into the safety & health program (i.e. participation in self-audits, site inspections, job hazard analyses, safety and health program reviews, safety training, near-miss investigations, etc.).

13. Applying for STEP Platinum - Requirements • Have effective employee training for avoidance of hazards specific to the contractor’s worksite(s). • Provide construction site supervisors with training equivalent to the OSHA 10-hour construction safety course. • Have designated safety personnel who, through training and experience, are able to recognize work hazards and have the authority to take prompt corrective action (training curriculum equivalent to the OSHA 30-hour Construction Safety course will be deemed to be satisfactory). • Have no fatalities or catastrophic incidents (in-patient hospitalization of 3 or more employees) in the past three years, which resulted in OSHA citations. • Submit the “Insurer Support Statement” attesting to the STEP score. • Submit a copy of their 2007 OSHA 300A Form with STEP application • Note: STEP Platinum applications require a REFUNDABLE $165 preparation / review fee If you apply for--but do not achieve--STEP Platinum, your preparation / review fee WILL BE REFUNDED!

14. Accredited Quality Contractor • If your company is certified as STEP Gold or Platinum, you’re already halfway to earning your AQC accreditation.

15. Accredited Quality Contractor Benefits • Contractors that successfully qualify as "Accredited Quality Contractors" are accredited for one year. Accredited Quality Contractors receive a plaque and other benefits, including: • Wide recognition within the industry, the business community and the public. • National and local recognition in publications. • Authorization to use AQC language in bid documents. • Permission to use the AQC logo on letterhead, business cards and jobsite signs. • In addition, Accredited Quality Contractors are acknowledged in ABC's national membership directory, www.FindContractors.com, as being AQC certified.

16. Accredited Quality Contractor How to Apply Get your AQC application from the ABC website at www.abc.org/AQC. For more information, contact ABC at (703) 812-2061 or email aqc@abc.org.

17. Questions? Get your STEP application from your local ABC Chapter or at www.abc.org/step Contact ABC National’s Safety Department at (703) 812-2016 or email step@abc.org for more information.