ABC Study Highlights Safer Jobsites With Proven Safety Programs

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) released its 2025 Health and Safety Performance Report, highlighting how safety best practices can dramatically reduce jobsite incidents. The findings show that companies following ABC’s STEP Health and Safety Management System achieve incident rates up to 85% lower than the industry average.

The report was published in advance of Construction Safety Week 2025, May 5–9, reinforcing the industry's focus on creating safer work environments across the United States.

“Transforming the status quo to set the expectation that all incidents are preventable creates a culture where health and safety are elevated to core values,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development.

Established in 1989, STEP provides a no-cost framework for contractors and suppliers to evaluate and benchmark safety performance. Key best practices identified in the 2025 report include:

• New Hire Orientation: Contractors that go beyond basic compliance and provide in-depth safety training for new employees see 52% lower total recordable incident rates (TRIR) and 56% lower Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) rates.
• Substance Abuse Prevention: Companies with drug and alcohol testing policies experience a 52% reduction in TRIR and 55% reduction in DART rates.
• Daily Toolbox Talks: Frequent safety discussions lead to a 78% reduction in TRIR and 79% reduction in DART rates compared to companies conducting monthly talks.
• Top Management Engagement: Leadership involvement reduces TRIR by 49% and DART rates by 52%.
• Leading Indicator Tracking: Monitoring proactive safety efforts such as training and orientation results in a 59% lower TRIR and 60% lower DART rate.

“The 2025 Health and Safety Performance Report and STEP will help any contractor or supplier reinforce their commitment to the well-being of their workforce,” Sizemore added.

Now in its eighth year, the report reflects real-world project data and participation from contractors involved in building, heavy construction and civil engineering projects. It’s backed by DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, marking its 100th anniversary in 2025.

Contractors can participate in STEP by visiting abc.org/step.