Construction safety remains one of the most critical priorities for contractors of all sizes, and few initiatives have demonstrated as much measurable impact as the Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) developed by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). This benchmarking and improvement program helps participating firms evaluate their safety processes against industry best practices and identify concrete areas for improvement. For contractors looking to strengthen their approach to jobsite safety, understanding how programs like STEP function is essential. A strong foundation in Construction Safety Programs Hazard Identification Training Requirements and Safety Management Systems for Job Sites provides the context needed to appreciate what STEP brings to the table. With data showing that STEP top performers are 670% safer than the industry average, the program has become a benchmark for construction safety excellence across the United States.
Understanding the ABC STEP Program and Its Core Components
What Is the STEP Program?
The Safety Training Evaluation Process, known as STEP, is a safety benchmarking and improvement program created by ABC in 1989. For over three decades, it has served as a structured framework that construction firms use to measure their safety processes and policies against world-class standards. The program’s core objective is to implement or enhance safety programs that reduce jobsite incident rates by applying proven processes that improve safety performance regardless of company size or type of work.
Tony Rader, ABC’s 2019 National Chair and a 35-year construction industry veteran, has been closely involved with the program for years. As vice president of National Roofing Partners (NRP), he has seen firsthand how STEP helps companies evaluate their safety history and identify improvement opportunities. “The STEP program allows companies like NRP to go through a list of questions and answers and look at past history, safety modifiers and the whole company safety history,” Rader explains. “It gives you a rating, and once you get that rating, it also tells you where you can improve.”
The 20 Key Components of STEP
At the heart of the STEP program are 20 Key Components. These are leading indicators that have been statistically shown to improve safety performance when implemented effectively. Each component represents a specific area of safety practice, and the program defines clear criteria that indicate best practices for each one. Participating companies complete a detailed questionnaire that evaluates their performance across all 20 components, providing a comprehensive picture of their safety program’s strengths and weaknesses.
The key components cover areas such as:
- Management commitment and leadership in safety
- Hazard identification and job safety analysis procedures
- Safety training programs for workers at all levels
- Incident investigation and root cause analysis
- Emergency preparedness and response planning
- Subcontractor safety management and prequalification
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) programs
- Recordkeeping and safety data analysis
Each of these components is scored individually, giving companies a clear roadmap for where to focus their improvement efforts.
STEP Recognition Levels
Based on their total score across the 20 Key Components, companies receive one of six recognition levels that reflect their safety program maturity:
- Diamond – The highest recognition level, indicating world-class safety performance
- Platinum – Excellence in safety program implementation and results
- Gold – Strong safety performance with well-established processes
- Silver – Solid safety foundation with ongoing improvement efforts
- Bronze – Basic safety program with identified areas for growth
- Participant – Entry-level recognition for companies beginning their STEP journey
This tiered structure allows companies of all sizes to participate and progress, from small firms with five employees to large organizations with over 1,500 workers.
The Measurable Impact of STEP on Construction Safety Performance
Data from the ABC 2018 Safety Performance Report
The results achieved by STEP participants are backed by concrete data. In ABC’s 2018 Safety Performance Report, the organization analyzed data gathered from STEP participants across construction, heavy construction, civil engineering, and specialty trades. This data was carefully correlated against U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures on industry-wide incidents, accidents, and injuries. The findings were remarkable and demonstrated the transformative power of structured safety programs.
Proper machinery operation is a significant component of construction safety, and workers trained under comprehensive safety programs are better equipped to handle heavy equipment. For more on this aspect of jobsite safety, see Why Heavy Machinery Safety in Construction Sites.
How STEP Compares to Industry Benchmarks
The performance gap between STEP participants and the industry average is striking. The data from the report quantifies the safety improvements that companies can achieve through systematic safety benchmarking and continuous improvement.
| Safety Metric | STEP Top Performers | Industry Average | Improvement Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) | 85% lower than industry average | Baseline | 6.7x safer |
| Safety performance vs. industry average | 670% safer | Baseline | 670% improvement |
| Proactive injury prevention adoption | Comprehensive implementation | Variable | Statistically significant |
| Hazard elimination tool usage | Systematic application | Inconsistent | Measurably higher |
These numbers demonstrate that the structured approach of STEP delivers real, quantifiable results. Companies that fully commit to the program’s 20 Key Components and achieve top recognition levels see dramatically fewer incidents, which translates to fewer injuries, lower insurance costs, and more productive jobsites.
Empowering a Safety-First Culture Through STEP
Giving Every Worker the Right to Stop Unsafe Work
One of the most powerful principles embedded in the STEP approach is the empowerment of workers at all levels. Rader emphasizes that safety cannot be a top-down mandate alone. It must be a shared responsibility where every individual on the jobsite has both the authority and the confidence to speak up when they see unsafe conditions. “At NRP, every person has the right to stop a job no matter what level of position you’re at,” Rader states. “Because if you don’t feel safe, we want you to stop the job.”
This principle of universal authority to halt unsafe work is a hallmark of mature safety programs. When workers know that management will support their decision to stop work for safety reasons, it creates a culture where hazards are addressed proactively rather than ignored or downplayed. This cultural shift is one of the most valuable outcomes of participating in a structured safety benchmarking program like STEP.
Overcoming Complacency in the Field
Complacency is one of the greatest threats to construction safety. When workers perform the same tasks day after day, the familiarity can lead to cutting corners or overlooking hazards. The STEP program helps combat this tendency by promoting an ongoing mindset of safety awareness. “Sometimes people in the field have to be reminded that you have to stop, evaluate conditions, research how you’re going to do this and do it right, and how you’re going to do it safely,” Rader comments. “It’s just that ongoing mindset so that it becomes second nature.”
The program’s emphasis on continuous evaluation and improvement ensures that safety remains a constant focus rather than becoming a checkbox exercise. Companies that embrace this mindset find that safety becomes integrated into every aspect of their operations, from planning and scheduling to execution and review.
Safety Training and Education Resources
ABC supports the STEP program with extensive training and education resources. Through its 69 chapters nationwide, the association provides a variety of safety training opportunities. Additionally, ABC makes member-developed and partner-developed safety resources available free of charge for use by the entire construction industry. This commitment to sharing knowledge and best practices ensures that even companies just beginning their safety journey have access to proven materials and methods.
For contractors who are new to formal safety programs or who want to understand the foundational requirements, resources like a Guide On How to Become a Construction Contractor provide valuable context on the broader responsibilities that come with running a construction business, including safety management obligations.
Expanding STEP as a Prequalification Tool Across the Industry
Growing STEP Adoption Nationwide
One of Rader’s key objectives as ABC National Chair is to expand the use of STEP as a contractor prequalification tool. Large clients, including national telecom accounts, are already investigating the use of STEP as a way to vet the contractors they hire. “On the prequalification form, if you check that you’re a STEP member and you’re a certain level or above, then we know that you’re doing it right,” Rader explains. This trend toward safety-based prequalification is gaining momentum across the construction industry as owners and general contractors recognize that a strong safety record correlates with overall contractor quality and reliability.
The use of STEP as a prequalification tool benefits both sides of the contracting relationship. For clients, it provides a reliable, third-party verified indicator of a contractor’s safety capabilities. For contractors, achieving a high STEP recognition level becomes a competitive differentiator that can open doors to new business opportunities.
Addressing the Workforce Gap Through Safety Training
The construction industry faces a significant workforce shortage, with approximately 500,000 job positions open nationwide. Rader sees the STEP program as a critical tool for addressing this gap by providing a standardized training model for new workers. “We have 500,000 jobs positions open right now, and we have got to bring people in and start getting those individuals trained to the model that we want,” he states. “The model we’ll use nationwide for ABC is the STEP program.”
By using STEP as the foundation for training new entrants to the construction workforce, the industry can ensure that safety is ingrained from day one. This approach not only protects new workers but also helps build a more skilled and safety-conscious workforce for the future.
The Future of Construction Safety
The STEP program has evolved significantly since its creation in 1989. What began as a framework for implementing and enhancing safety programs has grown into a world-class safety initiative recognized across the construction industry. Rader wants to promote STEP to companies of all sizes. “I want to promote that whether you’re a company that has five people or 1,500 people in your organization, you have this resource, and that it’s a huge value for all of our members,” he says.
For contractors looking to improve their safety performance, the path forward is clear. Participating in a structured benchmarking program like STEP provides the data, guidance, and recognition needed to build a culture of safety that protects workers and improves business outcomes. Contractors seeking additional context on how safety programs function on active jobsites should review Safety Construction Sites for additional practical insights.
The evidence from ABC’s data speaks for itself. Companies that commit to the STEP program and work their way up through the recognition levels achieve safety outcomes that far exceed industry averages. In an industry where every worker deserves to go home the same way they came to work, programs like STEP are not just beneficial. They are essential.