OSHA Strategic Partnership Program > List of Partnership Closures: Region VI > Completed Partnerships with the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC)

<<< Back to Partnership Closures: Region VI

Region VI Completed Partnerships with the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC)

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Partnerships Utilizing the Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP)

STEP was created in 1989 by the ABC National Environment, Health & Safety Committee to recognize ABC member companies with exceptional safety records. It is a national program designed to assist its member construction companies in annually evaluating their safety and health management system performance and their safety and health training programs. There are four levels of achievement in the STEP program: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

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. 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. STEP recognizes companies that go above and beyond OSHA requirements for a safe workplace.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration partnered with the Associated Builders of Contractors on a nationwide basis on February 11, 2000 and this expired on September 1, 2004. OSHA and ABC agreed to continue the efforts by having local ABC chapters partner with the OSHA area office in its jurisdiction.

For more information on the STEP program, please go to Associated Builders and Contractors’ webpage.

Below is a list of currently active Region VI partnerships utilizing the STEP program.


Eastern Oklahoma Chapter
#155

Partners:	Oklahoma Department of Labor
Date Signed:	May 2, 2000 (renewed August 1, 2003)
Date Concluded:	April 30, 2005
Contact Information:	Oklahoma City Area Office, (405) 278-9560 or Regional Partnership Coordinator


Pelican, Bayou Chapters
#53

Date Signed:	May 8, 2000
Date Concluded:	June 30, 2005
Contact Information:	Baton Rouge Area Office, (225) 298-5458 or Regional Partnership Coordinator


Central Texas Chapter
#192

Date Signed:	March 9, 2001
Date Concluded:	April 13, 2006
Contact Information:	Austin Area Office, (512) 916-5783 or Regional Partnership Coordinator

Results: By the end of the term, this Partnership impacted 8,665 employees. Partners carried out 349 self inspections and identified and corrected a total of 375 hazards. Also noteworthy was a drop in the aggregate DART rate to 2.5 in 2004 (from 4.2 in 2002, a 40% reduction).


Arkansas Chapter
#202

Date Signed:	July 31, 2001
Date Concluded:	April 18, 2006
Contact Information:	Little Rock Area Office, (501) 324-6291 or Regional Partnership Coordinator


Rio Grande Chapter
#231

Date Signed:	September 10, 2001
Date Concluded:	April 30, 2005
Contact Information:	Albuquerque Area Office, (505) 248-5302 or Regional Partnership Coordinator


Greater Houston Chapter
#234

Date Signed:	July 19, 2002 (renewed January 25, 2005)
Date Concluded:	January 25, 2008
Contact Information:	Houston North Area Office, (281) 591-2438 Houston South Area Office, (281) 286-0583 or Regional Partnership Coordinator

Results: This partnership impacted six employers and 36,680 employees. During the most recent evaluation period, 7,504 self-inspections identified and abated 1,320 hazards. One Partnering company is serving as an OSHA Challenge administrator, and several actively pursued VPP through the VPP Mobile Workforce Demonstration for Construction.


South Texas Chapter
#245

Date Signed:	September 17, 2002
Date Concluded:	September 17, 2006
Contact Information:	Austin Area Office, (512) 916-5783 or Regional Partnership Coordinator

Results: This partnership impacted three employers and 6,828 employees. In 2005, 547 self-inspections identified and abated 721 hazards, primarily in the four highest hazard areas for construction (falls, struck-by, caught-between, and electrocution).


Texas Coastal Bend Chapter
#296

Date Signed:	August 27, 2003 (renewed January, 20 2005)
Date Concluded:	February 28, 2008
Contact Information:	Corpus Christi Area Office, (361) 888-3420 or Regional Partnership Coordinator

Results: In 2005, this Partnership continued to maintain injury and illness rates that are less than half the industry average. Additionally, one Partner, REPCON, is an OSHA Challenge graduate and is actively pursuing VPP participation.


Texas
#412

Partners:	Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
Date Signed:	February 2, 2005
Date Concluded:	February 2, 2006
Contact Information:	Fort Worth Area Office, (817) 581-7303 or Regional Partnership Coordinator

Results: Each of the partnership's nine participants had at least one "in compliance" OSHA inspections during the course of this Partnership. Additionally, over 7,600 self-inspections were conducted, resulting in the identification and abatement of more than 1,400 hazards.