The new 2009 STEP applications were sent to all ABC of Western Washington Retro and contractor members the second week of January. The deadline to return the completed submittal form to ABC is February 27, 2009. Send all completed forms to ABC Western Washington. Do not send any STEP forms directly to ABC National. Completion of the STEP form is a requirement for all ABC Retro members.
The STEP program was developed and written by contractors for contractors. Here is what participating in the STEP program will do for your company:
- provide you with an organized approach to analyze and further develop your safety and loss prevention program;
- provide a valid, objective method to measure safety program improvements;
- and provide your company with safety performance recognition that can be used as an important business development tool with clients.
In addition to giving your company national recognition for its safety efforts, the STEP program also helps ABC National’s Safety Committee better identify the safety needs of our members. By targeting these needs, we can more effectively develop safety-related materials and programs that will directly benefit your company.
There are four categories of STEP awards: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. The platinum award level is open to applicants who received gold or platinum STEP level in 2008 and who satisfy the following criteria:
- have an occupational injury and illness recordable rate/incident rate at or below the appropriate NAICS code for your industry;
- have site specific written safety program based on the ANSI A-10.38 or OSHA 1989 Guidelines for safety program (meeting DOSH standards);
- have employee involvement in your safety program, to include participation in self-audits, site inspections, job hazard analyses, safety and health program review, and accident investigations;
- have no repeated serious violations in the last three years;
- have designated safety personnel, who through training and experience, can recognize work hazards and have the authority to take prompt corrective action;
- have policies in place that require subcontractors to adhere to company policy.
If you are applying for the platinum award, send all the paperwork, including your check made payable to ABC, to ABC of Western Washington. The ABC National Safety Committee will review all platinum applications. Applicants who have either fatalities or willful violations will not be eligible for STEP platinum. Platinum recipients will comprise the group from which ABC National will select its National Excellence in Safety Award winners. Platinum level winners will receive special recognition in ABC and non-ABC publications.
If you have not yet received your STEP form, please call Stacie Elledge or Ann Jarvis at (425) 646-8000, (800) 640-7789 or e-mail
Stacie Elledge for a copy.