OSHA Strategic Partnership Program<< Back to Region VI

Region VI

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.
Texas
#638
   
Date Signed: January 9, 2008; renewed April 1, 2011
Contact Information: Dallas Regional Office (972) 850-4174
Links:

Partnership Agreement

Construction Industry Partnerships

 

Participating Facilities:

  • Austin Industrial, Inc., Houston, Texas
  • Burton Construction, Sugar Land, Texas
  • Constructors & Associates, Dallas, Texas
  • D.E. Harvey Builders, Inc., Houston, Texas
  • E.E. Reed Construction, LP, Sugar Land, Texas
  • Industrial Specialty Contractors, LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Journeyman Construction, Austin, Texas
  • S & B Engineers and Constructors, Ltd., Houston, Texas
  • Ref – Chem, Houston, Texas
  • TD Industries, Dallas, Texas
  • Turner Industries Group, LLC, Dallas, Texas

Partnership Results:
This OSP currently impacts 18 active employers and over 11,000 employees. In the previous year, the Area Directors and Compliance Assistance Specialists from Houston North and Houston South offices attended monthly ABC safety committee meetings to discuss local and state fatality trends, new, pending, and proposed regulations and industry trends. Also, they provide input at safety committee meetings covering any changes related to a standard or updates including but not limited to: Portland Cement, National Emphasis Programs on Silica and Mobile Cranes, Avian Flu, and Confined Space in Construction.

Also, ABC provided OSHA training classes including the 10 Hour OSHA course, 30 Hour OSHA course, and the 100 Hour certification course on Construction Site Safety Technician. Several of these courses were provided in Spanish. The local area office assisted with portions of these courses. In 2010, ABC conducted a Safety Stand-down and three participating members participated, affecting a total of 450 employees.

In 2010, several notable events and milestones occurred:

  • Austin Industrial initiated a Drive to Zero Campaign throughout all sites.
  • Industrial Specialty Contractors completed 1.7 million man hours without an OSHA recordable injury / illness.
  • Kellogg Brown & Root accomplished 17 years without a Loss Time Incident.
  • The Texas Chapter collaborated with the Gulf Coast Safety Institute (GCSI) to conduct a training questionnaire where there were 156 responses and from these initial responses, both ABC and GCSI will continue this effort for the next five years in efforts to create a baseline of the training and its effectiveness for the Construction Industry in the Greater Houston area with a formation of a subcommittee for this project.
  • The ABC Houston Chapter won first place for having the most applications for Platinum in the country as well as received second place for the most STEP application in the country.

During this rating period, two partnering employers received Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) recognition. The Austin Industrial Group achieved STAR status at the Lubrizol Bayport and S & B Engineers and Contractors obtained Mobile Workforce Status at the Motiva. All partnering employers received an enforcement inspection and out of the 13, 12 were in compliance.

The OSP’s goals for the upcoming year include gathering and consolidating information on the audit process for all members to ensure consistency and uniformity and to work on a specialty contractor’s campaign in order to increase the number of partnering members. Also, current partners will mentor a specialty contractor in order to bolster their existing safety & health management system to make it effective.


Central Texas
#778
   
Date Signed: January 7, 2011
Contact Information: Austin Area Office (512) 374-0271
Links:

Partnership Agreement

Construction Industry Partnerships
Immigrant Employers and Workers Partnerships
Silica and Related Disease Emphasis Parterships