OSHA Strategic Partnerships Program > Region 3

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OSHA Strategic Partnerships Program > Region 3 > #505 Partnership Agreement

Printing Instructions

OSHA Strategic Partnership Agreement
between
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc
Keystone Chapter
and the
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Allentown, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre Area Offices

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

I. PARTNERS

The partners of the Agreement are:

The Keystone Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC). Keystone Chapter ABC is comprised of the following counties: Adams, Berks, a portion of Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry, Lancaster, Lebanon, a portion of Schuylkill, and York.
The Harrisburg Area Office will be the lead office coordinating this Partnership with support from the Allentown, Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre Area Offices of the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Allentown Area Office has jurisdiction over the following counties: Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton. The Harrisburg Area Office has jurisdiction over the following counties: Adams, Berks, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry and York. The Philadelphia Area Office has jurisdiction over the following counties: Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia. The Wilkes-Barre Area Office has jurisdiction over the following counties: Bradford, Carbon, Clinton, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Columbia, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne and Wyoming.

II. PURPOSE/ SCOPE

ABC and OSHA mutually recognize the importance of providing a safe and healthful work environment for those employees working in Pennsylvania. To advance our mutual goal, we strongly agree on the need to develop partnerships that foster mutual trust and respect for the respective roles of each organization in the construction safety process. We recognize and embrace the responsibilities inherent in those roles. We are committed to work as partners to achieve construction workplace safety and health through shared strategies and objectives.

This agreement provides incentives to contractors that voluntarily participate in the ABC Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) program and demonstrate implementation of effective safety and health programs. The STEP program, implemented annually by the ABC, is an objective tool that contractor members use to evaluate and strengthen their safety programs, policies and procedures. ABC recognizes participants based on their development and enactment of safety programs, policies and procedures. The four recognition levels are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. See Appendix A for a detailed description of the STEP program. See Appendix B for a sample STEP application. Go on to ABC’s website, http://www.abc.org/user-assets/Documents/Safety/06STEPapp.pdf for the most recent version of the STEP application.

Implementation of this agreement is expected to result in an improved awareness of safety concerns, and decreased injuries, illnesses and fatalities for participant contractors with a resultant decrease in worker compensation costs as well as other direct or indirect costs.

III. PARTICIPATION GOALS/STRATEGIES/MEASURES

ABC and OSHA will work in partnership to accomplish the following goals:

Reduce by 4%, annually, the DART (Days Away Restricted or Transfer) rate affecting each participant employer, with an emphasis on reducing injuries and illnesses resulting from falls, struck-by and caught-in mishaps, and electrocution (the four focused construction hazards) and with the ancillary goal of reducing each company’s DART rate 25% below its industry average.
Upon signature of this agreement, the most current three year average DART rate of those companies participating in the partnership will serve as a baseline.
The Harrisburg Area OSHA Office and Keystone ABC will maintain a spreadsheet for the partnership that calculates for each participant the percentage it reduced its DART rate from the previous year and when a participant has reached the goal of reducing its DART rate 25% below its industry average.
Increase the number of ABC firms that participate in the STEP program

IV. PARTNER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ABC and OSHA agree to work in partnership to improve safety and health performance at participating companies.

ABC agrees to:

Distribute STEP applications to ABC members.

Distribute along with the STEP application information regarding this partnership, and a written opportunity to participate in this partnership.

Inform OSHA of those companies participating in the partnership, along with their level of recognition (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum). Participants will be required to complete an Appendix B, “Safety Training & Evaluation Process, Submittal Sheet”, Appendix C, “Agreement of Participation” and submit them through the ABC to the Harrisburg Area OSHA office to participate in the Partnership.

Provide OSHA with the worksite locations for participants to facilitate the onsite non-enforcement verification(s).
Share baseline and ongoing injury and illness measurement data with OSHA.

Meet with OSHA quarterly to discuss mutual partnership commitments, mentoring, issues and implementation and best practices in construction safety.

Share and post best practices in construction safety on ABC web sites, especially as they relate to correcting the four focused construction hazards and improving STEP award levels.

OSHA agrees to:

Work cooperatively with ABC to provide safety and health information, technical assistance, and training to participants in order to facilitate improvements in safety and health management systems.

Work with ABC to recommend program improvements to individual Bronze, Silver, and Gold STEP Applicants.

Ensure that the affected OSHA staff, including the Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs), are familiar with the requirements and objectives of this partnership.

Maintain and disseminate to OSHA field staff up-to-date information about participants and their STEP award levels.

Participate in conferences, committee meetings and/or other professional functions.

Recognize partnering companies on OSHA’s public web site.

Post best practices in construction safety on OSHA’s public web site, especially as they relate to correcting the four focused construction hazards and improving STEP award levels.

V. BENEFITS

OSHA will offer the following benefits to participating ABC companies:

Award a certificate of participation to each partnering company.
Award a certificate to companies who successfully complete an onsite, non-enforcement OSHA verification
OSHA will provide additional penalty reductions for good faith, beyond those allowed by the FIRM, if the partnering company incorporates into its written program, language which helps the employer identify and implement permanent solutions for the root cause of cited hazards. This additional reduction will not apply to high gravity serious, willful, failure to abate or repeat citations. The percentage of this additional reduction is based upon the partner company’s level of participation in the STEP program. They are:
Note: The initial 25% credit for good faith allowed by the FIRM normally requires a written safety and health program that provides for appropriate management commitment, employee involvement, worksite analysis for hazard identification, hazard prevention, control measures, and safety and health training.

VI. VERIFICATION

Annually, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialists (CAS ) will conduct unannounced onsite non-enforcement verification(s) of 10% of the companies participating in this partnership. OSHA will evaluate the company’s implementation of its safety and health management system and observe the site to see if the partnering company is adequately protecting its employees, with emphasis on the top four causes of construction injuries: falls, struck-by, caught-in and electrocutions (OSHA’s four focused construction hazards). The participant shall make every effort to immediately correct identified hazards prior to the OSHA CAS exiting the site. If OSHA personnel identify serious hazards that site management refuses to correct, OSHA will make a referral for an enforcement inspection.

VII. PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT

A Partnership Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the ABC Keystone Safety Committee and OSHA’s Harrisburg Area Office will meet quarterly and oversee the activities of this partnership:

ABC will forward the names of those companies who have elected to participate in this partnership, along with their STEP award level, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) to OSHA’s Harrisburg Area Office. The Harrisburg Area Office will forward participant names to the Regional Office to coordinate recognition of participants on OSHA’s public web site.
ABC will also forward to OSHA from each partnering company an Agreement of Participation (Appendix C).
ABC will share with OSHA the data required to calculate the DART rate for the baseline years and each subsequent year for the annual evaluation of this partnership, including data on the four focused construction hazards (falls, struck-by and caught-in mishaps, and electrocution).
The Partnership Steering Committee will meet quarterly to review partnership issues, mentoring activities, and to examine updated DART rates and the injury and illness experience of ABC participants to make corrections and adjustments, as needed, in order to facilitate excellence in the participants’ occupational safety and health programs.

VIII. EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER RIGHTS

This partnership does not preclude employees and/or employers from exercising any right provided under the OSH Act (or, for federal employees, 29 CFR 1960), nor does it abrogate any responsibility to comply with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the Act.

IX. TERMINATION

This agreement will terminate three years from the date the partnership is signed. If either OSHA or ABC wishes to withdraw their participation prior to the established termination date, the agreement will terminate upon receiving a written notice of the intent to withdraw from either signatory.

X. EVALUATION

This partnership will be evaluated annually using Appendix D for achievement towards the goal of reducing the DART rate by 4%. ABC is responsible for gathering data upon which the partnership will be measured.

Participant aggregate DART rate will be compared with BLS published data and against the previous year’s data.

The Partnership Steering Committee will prepare an annual report evaluating the merits of the program and providing recommendations for continuous improvement. The partnership annual report will be reviewed by OSHA and the ABC Keystone Chapter and may be revised based on recommendations for continuous improvement.

XI. SIGNATORIES

Jack Zimmer President & CEO Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc Keystone Chapter	Albert D’Imperio Area Director USDOL/OSHA Philadelphia Area Office
Date: _______________________________	Date: _______________________________
Jean Kulp Area Director USDOL/OSHA Allentown Area Office	Andrew Hedesh Area Director USDOL/OSHA Wilkes-Barre Area Office
Date: _______________________________	Date: _______________________________
Robert Fink Area Director USDOL/OSHA Harrisburg Area Office (Lead Office)
Date: _______________________________

APPENDIX A

The ABC STEP Program

1. Program

ABC has implemented a national program to assist its member construction companies in annually evaluating their safety and health program performance and their safety and health training programs. This program is known as the Safety Training and Evaluation Process, or "STEP" program. The ABC National Office processes all applications and, in turn, presents awards to qualified applicants.
The STEP program was created by the ABC National Safety Committee in 1992. The National Safety Committee is composed of construction safety professionals drawn from ABC member companies throughout the United States. Along with this national committee, ABC has over 60 safety committees formed in various chapters across the United States and Guam. Safety committee members at these local chapters identify and provide safety courses and seminars on safety compliance programs pertinent to their geographical area. These committees convey concerns, stance on issues and other items of construction safety interest to the National Safety Committee.
The STEP program has four award levels. The Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum awards are based on self-evaluation scores and are administered by ABC. The fourth category, Platinum, will be open to those companies whose achievements in the area of worksite safety are, certifiably, the best of the best. OSHA will recognize contractors that participate in the STEP program in all levels.
Once a partnership has been established, the ABC Staff and/or Partnership Steering Committee will inform their members who have successfully completed the application process and are thus eligible for participation in the CLAS partnership.

2. Program Implementation

The Partnership shall be implemented as follows:

STEP Applications
1. ABC National will distribute applications to its contractor members. The application consists of a two-part form. Part One of the form requests safety statistical data. This data is found on summary OSHA 300 logs. Part Two of the form is the self-evaluation section where contractors answer a series of questions related to their safety program; each response has a numerical rating. Responses from questions are totaled, providing a score.
2. The next phase of the STEP program is the evaluation of applicants. Application evaluation is conducted at the ABC National office. Data from each application is keyed into ABC National’s database. This includes information from the applicant’s OSHA 300 Log, employee work-hours from the noted calendar year, as well as the self-evaluation score. OSHA 300 Log data is used to evaluate Platinum incentive award level applicants’ recordable rates.
3. Applicants seeking Platinum incentive award level, must satisfy additional criteria. To review the criteria, see Section 1 of the "Instructions for completing the STEP Submittal Sheet" found in Appendix C.
ABC National will forward the names of STEP companies, their appropriate STEP level, STEP score, and recordable rate to the ABC XYZ Chapter.

3. Program Quality Controls

The ABC XYZ Chapter will designate staff personnel to implement the following program monitoring activities:
1. Periodic reviews of participatory ABC chapter activities to ensure that program requirements are met.
2. Termination of a participating contractor’s status if findings indicate unacceptable performance or submission of falsified documentation;
3. Provide recommendations to the Partnership Steering Committee for program improvements.
Information submitted by contractors as part of the application or renewal process, as well as information obtained by virtue of the contractor's application or participation in the program, will be held in strict confidence within the confines of the partnership program. However, in event of an OSHA inspection, such information that is relevant to any element of the investigation and normally is available will be provided to OSHA upon request.

4. Contractor Termination

A contractor's participation will be terminated and OSHA will be informed if one or more of the following occurs:
1. The contractor has falsified information on the application or supporting records;
2. The contractor does not maintain an active membership with the ABC XYZ Chapter.
3. The contractor takes other such actions that may be determined to be grounds for termination by the Partnership Steering Subcommittee;
Prior to final termination of a contractor's status, the following will occur:
1. The contractor will be notified in writing of the intent to terminate;
2. The notice will include an explanation of the reasons for termination;
3. The contractor will have an opportunity to reply to the written notice within a period of thirty (30) days; and
4. The contractor will have the right to make an appearance before the Partnership Steering Subcommittee.
The Partnership Steering Committee will have the authority to reinstate the contractor if it is determined that the contractor's experience was unusual and not necessarily inconsistent with a sound safety and health program. In this event OSHA is free to conduct another verification inspection.
Any contractor may terminate participation in the program at any time.

APPENDIX B

2006 Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) Application

The Safety Training and Evaluation Process, or STEP, program was developed and written by contractors, for contractors. By participating, here’s what the STEP program will do:

Provide you with an organized approached to analyze and further develop your safety & loss prevention program;
Provide a valid, objective method to measure safety program improvements;
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 the ABC National Safety Committee better identify the safety needs of our members. By targeting those needs, we can more effectively develop safety-related materials and programs that will directly benefit your company. STEP continues to evolve to assist in better serving our members, and we thank you for your participation.

STEP Award certificates for all levels will be mailed to your chapter for public presentation at an appropriate chapter function.

STEP Platinum level is open to applicants who received Gold or Platinum STEP level in 2005, and satisfy additional criteria (see instructions for additional criteria).

STEP Platinum award winners are eligible to receive ABC’s National Safety Excellence Award, and will be considered for the Construction User’s Roundtable Construction Industry Safety Excellence (CURT/CISE) Award.

STEP participation at the Gold or Platinum levels at least once within the past two years is a requirement for companies seeking Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status, as well as for companies applying for ABC Excellence in Construction awards.

Safety Training & Evaluation Process
Submittal Form

SECTION 1 – COMPANY INFORMATION

 Check box if you are applying for STEP Platinum.

Company Name: ________________________________

Address: ______________________________________

City/State/Zip: _________________________________

ABC Chapter: __________________________________

SIC/NAICS Code: _______________________________

Business Unit (if applicable):_______________________

Form completed by: _____________________________

Signature ______________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________

E-mail Address: _________________________________

SECTION 2 – SAFETY PERFORMANCE DATA

REFER TO YOUR 2004 OSHA FORM 300A FOR (a) through (h) AND FOCUS 4 DATA

a.____ Total number of deaths (line G on OSHA #300A)

b.____ Total number of CASES with days away from work (line H on OSHA #300A)

c.____ Total number of CASES with job transfer/restriction (line I on OSHA #300A)

d.____ Total number of other recordable cases (line J on OSHA #300A)

e.____ Total number of DAYS away from work (line K on OSHA #300A)

f. ____ Total number of DAYS of job transfer or restriction (line L on OSHA #300A)

g.________ Annual average number of employees

h.________ Total hours worked by all employees in 2004

i.____ EMR ("mod factor")

j.) a+b+c+d = __________

ALL Applicants – Focus 4 Data

Number of falls _____
Number of caught in/between _____
Number of struck-by _____
Number of electrical incidents _____

Number of Federal/State OSHA inspections in 2005: ______

Number of Federal/State OSHA citations issued in 2005: ______

Number of Federal/State OSHA citations tossed out in 2005: ______

Length of safety orientation (in minutes):______

Toolbox safety talks frequency:  Daily  Weekly  Bi-weekly  Monthly  Other __________________

Do you have a substance abuse program that includes a drug/alcohol screening process?  Yes  No

Percentage of work performed within 100 miles of home office: Within 101-250 miles: ___ Beyond 250 miles: __________

SECTION 3 – TWENTY KEY COMPONENTS OF SAFETY SELF ASSESSMENT

A.___ Employer Commitment B.___ Employer Policy Statement on Safety C.___ Responsibility for Safety Defined D.___ EMR or Loss Ratio E.___ Resources for Safety F.___ Safety Program Goal Setting G.___ Employer Supervisory Meeting	H.___ Pre-Planning for Jobsite Safety I.___ Employee Participation J.___ New Employee Orientation K.___ Safety Rules L.___ Employee Safety Training M.___ Toolbox Safety Meetings N.___ Inspections	O.___ Supervisory Training P.___ Accident Investigation Q.___ Use of PPE R.___ Performance Review S.___ Substance Abuse Policy T.___ Recordkeeping
		____ TOTAL SCORE

SECTION 4 – COMPANY MANAGEMENT AND ABC CHAPTER CERTIFICATIONS

I CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS TRUE AND CORRECT.

Print Name:_____________________________ Title:____________ Signature:_____________________________

ABC Chapter Representative: Print Name: ________________________ Signature:__________________________

Instructions for completing the 2006 STEP Submittal Form

SECTION 1 – COMPANY INFORMATION

Check box if you are applying for Platinum. STEP Platinum is the highest level of STEP. STEP Platinum offers several benefits to ABC members. STEP Platinum members are automatically considered for the ABC National Safety Excellence Award (NSEA), as well as the industry-wide Construction Users Roundtable Construction Industry Safety Excellence (CURT/CISE) Award. STEP Platinum members may also be eligible for partnerships with local OSHA offices. Contact your local ABC Chapter for details regarding possible OSHA partnering programs in your area.

No fee is required if you are NOT submitting for STEP Platinum status.
STEP Platinum applications require a nonrefundable $165 processing fee.
If you are submitting this application for Platinum award consideration, check this box. STEP Platinum level is open to applicants who meet ALL of the following qualifications:
1. Received Gold or Platinum STEP award last year.
2. Have a Twenty Key Components score of 125 or higher.
3. Have an Incidence Rate in year 2003, 2004, or 2005, that is equal to, or less than the industry average for your NAICS code, as listed in Table 1 on the next page.
  
  Total Recordable Rate = Total number of OSHA Recordables x 200,000
  Total Hours Worked by All Employees
4. Have written site-specific safety and health programs.
5. Incorporate employee involvement into the safety & health program (i.e. participation in self-audits, site inspections, job hazard analyses, safety and health program reviews, safety training, near-miss investigations, etc.).
6. Have effective employee training for avoidance of hazards specific to the contractor’s worksite(s).
7. Provide construction site supervisors with training equivalent to the OSHA 10-hour construction safety course.
8. Have designated safety personnel who, through training and experience, are able to recognize work hazards and have the authority to take prompt corrective action. Training curriculum equivalent to the OSHA 30-hour Construction Safety course will be deemed to be satisfactory.
9. Have no fatalities or catastrophic incidents (in-patient hospitalization of 3 or more employees) in the past three years, which resulted in OSHA citations.
10. Submit an insurer’s statement attesting to the STEP score (sample attached to end).
11. Submit a copy of their 2005 OSHA 300A Form.
  
  No fee is required if you are NOT applying for STEP Platinum. Forward your completed STEP Submittal Form to your local ABC chapter. Platinum candidates must also forward the insurer’s statement found at the end of the self assessment, a copy of the completed 2005 OSHA 300A Form and the processing fee.
  
  Note: If you wish to purchase additional STEP Platinum plaques for branch offices, they are available for $40 each.
Company name: Enter the official name of your business. In cases where a specific location or division of a company is applying individually, please specify which business unit, division, geographical location etc. in the adjacent line marked “Division/Business Unit (if applicable).”
Address & City/State/ZIP: Enter the mailing address of the location for which this application is being submitted. If you are submitting an application that covers multiple locations, please enter the address to which you would like correspondence sent, and include other locations on a separate sheet of paper.
ABC Chapter: List all ABC chapters to which you belonged during the application year.

NAICS codes and average Incidence Rates: Refer to Table 1 to identify your company’s NAICS Code and average Incidence Rate:

TABLE 1

NAICS Code	NAICS Title	Incident Rate
236115	New Single Family Housing Construction (except Operative Builders)	5.0
236116	New Multifamily Family Housing Construction (except Operative Builders)	5.0
236117	New Housing Operative Builders	5.0
236118	Residential Remodelers	5.0
236210	Industrial Building Construction	5.9
236220	Commercial and Institutional Building Construction	5.9
237110	Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction	5.8
237120	Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction	5.8
237130	Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction	5.8
237210	Land Subdivision	3.5
237310	Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction	6.3
237990	Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	5.8
238110	Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors	6.7
238120	Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors	10.2
238130	Framing Contractors	11.1
238140	Masonry Contractors	6.4
238150	Glass and Glazing Contractors	6.7
238160	Roofing Contractor	7.9
238170	Siding Contractors	5.4
238190	Other Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors	5.4
238210	Electrical Contractors	5.7
238220	Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Contractors	8.0
238290	Other Building Equipment Contractors	4.5
238310	Drywall and Insulation Contractors	7.4
238320	Painting and Wall Covering Contractors	3.5
238330	Flooring Contractors	6.4
238340	Tile and Terrazzo Contractors	7.1
238350	Finish Carpentry Contractors	6.8
238390	Other Building Finishing Contractors	7.3
238910	Site Preparation Contractors	7.4
238990	All Other Specialty Trade Contractors	4.9

Business Unit (if applicable): If the data on your form represents a specific business unit, geographical location, division etc. of a larger organization, indicate so in this line. Otherwise, leave blank.
Form Completed By: Print your name in this space.
Signature: Sign in this space, indicating that the data you are reporting are true and correct.
Phone Number: Enter a phone number where the person completing the form can be reached. Include any extension numbers.
Email Address: Enter the email address either for the person completing this form, or another representative from your company. Future award announcements for the CURT/CISE and ABC National Safety Excellence Award will be sent to this email address.

SECTION 2 – SAFETY PERFORMANCE DATA

Lines a through h: Use your competed 2005 OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) to provide this data. Information in parentheses refers to lines on the OSHA Form 300A. Note that (b) and (c) ask for CASES, while (e) and (f) ask for DAYS. Also, complete (g) and (h) using this information from your 2005 OSHA Form 300A.
Line i: Contact your workers compensation insurance carrier to obtain your experience modification rate (EMR).
Line j: Add the results of lines a,b,c, and d to find your total number of OSHA recordable injuries
Focus Four data. Use your completed 2005 OSHA Form 300 to enter the number of recordable incidents that involved falls, caught in/between injuries, struck-by injuries and electrical injuries. Enter these numbers into the respective blanks.
Number of Federal/State OSHA inspections in 2005. Enter the total number of times OSHA inspected any of your worksites in 2005. In cases where a specific location or division of a company is submitting this application individually, include only the number of inspections encountered by the location or division.
Number of Federal/State OSHA citations issued in 2005. Enter the total number of OSHA citations you received as a result of the aforementioned inspections. Count all citations issued originally, regardless of whether or not any/all were eventually deleted or dismissed. In cases where a specific location or division of a company is submitting this application individually, include only the number of citations issued to your specific location or division.
Number of Federal/State OSHA citations tossed out in 2005. Enter the total number of OSHA citations that were completely tossed out (deleted or dismissed) as a result of subsequent negotiations or court proceedings. Do NOT count citations that have been simply reclassified or reduced in penalty. In cases where a specific location or division of a company is submitting this application individually, include only the number of citations tossed out for your specific location or division.
Length of Safety Orientation in Minutes. Indicate the length of your company’s safety orientation, or the number of minutes devoted to safety during your company’s new employee orientation.
Frequency of Toolbox Talks: Indicate whether or not you conduct regular (no less than monthly) toolbox safety talks, and how frequently they are conducted. If you do not conduct Toolbox Talks, enter “N/A”
Do you have a substance abuse program? Indicate whether or not your company has a program designed to screen for substance and alcohol abuse.
Scope of Operations: Enter the percentage of work performed within local area (100 miles), regional area (101-250 miles) and of national scope (beyond 250 miles) of your location.

SECTION 3 – TWENTY KEY COMPONENTS OF SAFETY SELF ASSESSMENT

After you have completed the “Twenty Key Components” section of the application, copy the individual Sub-Scores for (A) through (T) onto the respective blanks in this section. Please total your scores and enter this number onto the “Total Score” blank.

SECTION 4 – COMPANY MANAGEMENT AND ABC CHAPTER CERTIFICATIONS

The person who certifies that the information on this form is complete and accurate should print their name and title, and sign on the appropriate lines. Ideally, this should be the same person that approves your OSHA Form 300A. If that person also completed this form, another management-level employee should confirm the application.
ABC Chapter representative confirmation: After you have completed your STEP application, forward the STEP Submittal Sheet to your local ABC chapter. Once received, your ABC chapter representative will endorse the form and forward it to the ABC National safety office. Applications received without the endorsement of the local ABC chapter will not be considered.

TWENTY KEY COMPONENTS

Twenty (20) key components of company safety programs are listed on the following pages (see letters A through T). Each component contains columns that describe four levels of safety performance. Select the column that BEST describes your company’s performance. The score (number above the column) should be circled then written in the box labeled "SUB-SCORE." Transfer the SUB-SCOREs to the submittal sheet’s "Twenty Key Components" section.

A. EMPLOYER COMMITMENT

12	8	4	0
Employer participates in the safety program Sets objective for safety Requires feedback on program Provides necessary funds Safety is a part of company-wide performance appraisals	Company management participates in safety program Requires feedback on safety program Provides funds for safety	Company management wants and supports safety but does not participate Provides funds for safety activities	Not included Has a hands-off approach Leaves safety to safety coordinator or supervisory personnel

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION A

B. EMPLOYER POLICY STATEMENT ON SAFETY

6	4	2	0
Is in writing Known to all employees Is part of safety manual Defines purpose and scope of safety program Emphasizes employer approach Signed & supported by top person(s) in company	Policy exists Is in writing Has not been explained to employees but is posted Authorizes loss prevention activities	Policy exists but is not known by employees	No policy exists

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION B

C. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY DEFINED

9	6	3	0
Responsibility for safety defined for everyone in company Is in writing and is part of safety manual Supervisors/foremen have key responsibilities	Responsibility for safety defined for everyone in company Is not in writing Supervisors/foremen have key responsibilities	Responsibility for safety rests solely with a designated safety coordinator Supervisory personnel do not assist with safety program implementation	Responsibility for safety has not been defined within the company

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION C

D. EXPERIENCE MODIFICATION RATE (EMR) OR LOSS RATIO (LR)

6	4	2	0
EMR each of the past three years & the current year is below 0.85 (EMR) or (LR) is 40% or less Employer reviews the costs of accidents and the impact of the EMR/LR on the company	EMR/LR each of the past 3 years and current year is between 1.0 & 0.85 (EMR) or (LR) is 50% or less The cost of accidents are reported to the employer	EMR/LR has decreased 2 of the past 3 years	EMR/LR is unknown EMR has increased each of the past three years

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION D

E. RESOURCES FOR SAFETY

6	4	2	0
Resources are established annually for safety Resources are based on planned programs Estimates are made on savings contributed by safety program Employees are aware of safety budget	An annual safety allocation is established but not necessarily based on planned activities The item is adjusted based on previous years' expenses	Money is taken from general funds as needed for safety	Adequate resources are not made available for safety

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION E

F. SAFETY PROGRAM GOAL SETTING

9	6	3	0
Needs analysis is used to set safety program goals/objectives An action plan is developed to accomplish goals & objectives Feedback is required from those assigned tasks Audits are made to assess action plan effectiveness Long & short term goals are set	Safety program goals and objectives are set annually Employees are aware of the goals and objectives Feedback is required from those assigned tasks	Informal safety program goals are established Results are discussed at least annually with employees	No safety program goals or objectives are set

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION E

G. EMPLOYER SUPERVISORY MEETINGS

9	6	3	0
Employer conducts weekly supervisor meetings where safety is on the agenda Employer gives an overview of safety activity Serious accidents are reviewed	At least monthly supervisor meetings where safety is on the agenda Supervisors give a status report on job site safety activities Serious accidents are reviewed	Occasional supervisor meetings where safety is on the agenda Information is given to supervisors on safety Serious accidents are sometimes reviewed	Employer holds no supervisor meetings where safety is an agenda item

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION G

H. PRE-PLANNING FOR JOBSITE SAFETY

6	4	3	0
Pre-job safety planning is required at the bid stage A check list is used to assure all exposures are considered Necessary equipment is provided and precautions are taken prior to or at the start of the job, not after problems have been encountered Job supervisors are trained in planning for safety	Pre-job safety planning is required prior to starting site work Safety equipment and safety procedures are provided when needed Training in pre-job safety planning is not required A check list is used as a guide	No formal pre-job safety planning program but some planning is done No check list is used in pre-planning	No pre-job safety planning is done

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION H

I. EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION

9	6	3	0
Employee participation program in place Supervisors trained to facilitate employee participation Procedures set up for employees to participate in activities (as in previous column) ranging from training to accident investigations	Supervisors trained to facilitate employee participation Employees encouraged to participate in: tool box talks, hazard recognition/reporting, site inspections, safety rule development/revision, new hire & formal safety training, and accident investigations	Employee participation is encouraged Information is given to supervisors on how to involve employees Employee suggestion/comment program implemented	No employee participation program

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION I

J. NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION

6	4	2	0
Formal orientation program is in effect for all new or transferred employees Records maintained showing date, person doing orientation and items covered Orientation includes training on: safety rules, HAZCOM, major job hazard exposures, PPE, and emergency reporting procedures Employer concern for safe job performance is stressed Employee signs record sheet	Orientation is given to new employees that includes information on safety Documentation is maintained showing topics covered Orientation includes training on: safety rules, HAZCOM, major hazard exposures of the job, PPE, and emergency reporting procedures Job safety requirements are stressed	Orientation is given to employees but no documentation is maintained	No orientation is given to new employees

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION J

K. SAFETY RULES

9	6	3	0
Rules are in writing and are communicated to all employees Rules are concise and easy to understand Rules are enforced equally among all employees Rules are updated on a regular basis Subcontractors must follow safety rules.	Rules are in writing and are communicated to all employees Copies of the rules are posted or are available to employees Supervisors enforce most of the rules Subcontractors must follow safety rules.	There are some general rules The rules are enforced most of the time Rules have not been reviewed or revised within past two years	There are no safety rules

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION K

L. EMPLOYEE SAFETY TRAINING

12	8	4	0
Based on training needs assessment, formal safety training is provided and documented in areas such as: hazard recognition, first aid/CPR, hazard/standard specific OSHA topics, heavy equipment safety and trade specific safety (such as electrical safety) Formal safety training conducted by competent or qualified safety instructors Employee training comprehension/ understanding is verified and documented	Some formal safety training provided and documented in areas such as: first aid/CPR and hazard recognition Formal training needs assessment conducted for workforce Informal safety training conducted by competent or qualified safety instructors Employee training comprehension/ understanding is verified and documented	Formal safety training, with verifiable records provided in: hazard recognition Some informal safety training provided for categories found in the far left column	No formal safety training provided

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION L

M. TOOLBOX SAFETY MEETINGS

6	4	2	0
Meetings held weekly Conducted by supervisors Attendance and topic documentation kept Employees participate Employer attends occasionally	Supervisors hold meetings at least monthly Attendance and topic documentation kept	Employer conducts meetings with all employees less than once a month	No meetings held with employees

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION M

N. INSPECTIONS

9	6	3	0
Weekly job site inspections are made by the site supervisor Critical safety hazards are identified and corrected A report is submitted on the results of the inspection Hazards are classified according to seriousness Dates are set to assess corrective action effectiveness	Monthly job site inspections are made by an employer representative A report on the results is filed Follow-up corrective action is taken	Informal job site inspections are made occasionally by the site supervisor with no reports submitted	No inspections are required

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION N

O. SUPERVISORY TRAINING

9	6	3	0
Supervisory training includes: First Aid/CPR Hazard Recognition Emergency Reporting Procedures OSHA 10 Hour or greater Conducting Meetings Supervisory Skills Accident Investigation Job Safety Analysis Job Safety Planning Train-the-Trainer Jobsite Safety Inspections Human Relations Company has in-house facilities for training or has good outside training source Professional development courses offered Supervisors have access to a safety professional	Most supervisors receive training in: Hazard Recognition First Aid/CPR Emergency Reporting Procedures Human Relations Supervisory Skills Accident Investigation Job Site Safety Inspections	Some supervisors are sent to outside training courses	The firm has no training for supervisors

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION O

P. ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

9	6	3	0
Accidents and near misses are investigated by site supervisor All supervisors are trained in the techniques of accident investigation Reports are completed for all accidents Employer reviews all accidents that exceed a set cost The basic causes of all accidents are determined Information learned is shared with employees on all jobsites There are follow-up steps to assure corrective action is taken	All accidents are investigated with a report written Supervisors are trained to make investigations Employer reviews investigation reports Information on "serious" incidents is shared with employees on all jobsites	Informal investigations are made with no written report Some supervisory personnel know how to investigate an accident Information gained is not shared with employees on other jobsites Persons other that the site supervisor conduct most investigations	Accidents are not investigated to determine cause

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION P

Q. USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

9	6	3	0
Assessment made to determine PPE needs Employees trained in use and maintenance of PPE Approved PPE used PPE provided for employees Employees aware of disciplinary consequences of not using PPE PPE needs assessed annually	PPE is provided and use is required Employees trained in use and maintenance of PPE Employees informed of PPE requirements for each job	PPE is provided and its use encouraged Some training is given in use and maintenance of PPE	Use of PPE is left to the discretion of each employee, resulting in rare use

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION Q

R. PERFORMANCE REVIEW

6	4	2	0
Safety program is reviewed semi-annually to determine if it is producing desired results Criteria exist against which performance is measured Results of performance review become part of overall rating of supervisors Strong points and shortcomings are discussed with individual supervisors	Safety program is reviewed annually to determine if it is producing desired results Performance criteria exist for more than half of the areas measured Results are discussed with individual supervisors	Subjective review made of safety activities to judge if they are effective Rating given to each area reviewed	No review made of safety performance

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION R

S. SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY

6	4	2	0
Company Policy contains strict rules regarding drug and alcohol use Company does drug testing for pre-hire, post accident and for cause Company keeps counseling and testing records Company has an Employee Assistance Program	Company has substance abuse verbiage in company policy Supervisors are trained in hazards of drugs and alcohol on the job	Company has policy but makes no effort to enforce policy	Company has no policy regarding drugs, or alcohol abuse

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION S

T. RECORDKEEPING

6	4	2	0
Records are kept on: Inspections Training Indoctrination's Accident Investigations First Aid Treatment OSHA Log-Forms 300 & 300A Hazard Communication Program Employee Absences	Records are kept on: OSHA Log-Forms 300 & 300A Accident Investigations Inspections First Aid Treatment	OSHA Log – Forms 300 & 300A are maintained according to OSHA Requirements	No records are kept on safety related activities

______ SUB-SCORE FOR SECTION T

You have now completed the Twenty Components of Safety Self Assessment. If you have not already done so, transcribe your SUB-SCORES for Sections A through T onto your 2006 STEP Submittal Form.

We encourage all STEP program participants to consider seeking Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) accreditation. The Accredited Quality Contractor Program was launched in 1993 to provide an accreditation program which publicly recognizes and honors those construction firms which have documented their commitment in four key areas of corporate responsibility: Safety, Employee Benefits, Training, and Community Relations.

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. - AQC

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. - AQC

Accredited Quality Contractors receive a plaque and other benefits, including:

-Wide recognition within the industry, the business community and the public

-National and local recognition in publications

Authorization to use AQC language in bid documents

NOTE FOR THOSE APPLYING FOR STEP PLATINUM CONSIDERATION:

If you are submitting for STEP Platinum status, ensure the Insurer Support Statement on the next page is completed. Your company will automatically be considered for both the ABC National Safety Excellence Award and the Construction Users Roundtable Construction Industry Safety Excellence (CURT/CISE) Award.

If you intend to compete for these awards, we encourage you to fill out the optional submittal forms for both of these awards at this time, which are included as appendices on the following pages. This will allow you to complete the forms at this time using all pertinent information from your STEP Submittal Form and OSHA 300 log.

Calls for entry for both of these awards will be made in June of 2006. Please do not turn these optional submittal forms in with your STEP Submittal Form.

Insurer Support Statement

I have reviewed the accompanying STEP Platinum application and agree with the self-evaluation rating. This rating includes the evaluation of safety program(s) and policy.

____________________________
Signature

____________________________
Title/Company

___________________________
Date

APPENDIX C

AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION

Of Member Name

IN THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Southeast Pennsylvania Chapter

AND THE

U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Allentown and Philadelphia Area Offices

The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Southeast Pennsylvania Chapter (ABC) recognize the importance of providing a safe and healthful work environment for Pennsylvania’s workforce. To advance our goal, we strongly agree on the need to develop a working relationship that fosters trust and respect for each organization’s respective role in the safety process. We recognize and embrace the responsibilities inherent in those roles. We are committed to work as partners to achieve workplace safety.

MEMBER NAME, (herein called member) and ABC mutually recognize the importance of providing a safe and healthful work environment for their employees, and jobsites. To advance our goals, said member agrees with the criteria of the Partnership between OSHA’s Allentown and Philadelphia Area Offices and the ABC Southeast Pennsylvania Chapter.

Said member has read in its entirety the criteria of the partnership. In signing this agreement, said member company agrees to all the conditions and terms of the partnership. Said member also agrees to the following:

Cooperate in the development and continuous improvement of safety training programs for their employees.
Ensure that safety policies and practices are effective and consistent.
Recognize and honor the Partnership on an annual basis.
Review with the Partnership Steering Committee quarterly updates of said member’s injury and illness experience including DART rates and the focused four construction hazards.
Either party to the partnership may withdraw from the agreement at any time after submitting written notification of intent to the other partner.

Agreed to this day, _____________________, 200___

Owner/Officer Name (Print)
Member Company
Member Address
Member City, State, Zip

Owner/Officer Signature
Title

Appendix D
OSHA Strategic Partnership Program
Annual Partnership Evaluation Report

Cover Sheet

Partnership Name

Purpose of Partnership

Goals of Partnership
Goal	Strategy	Measure

Anticipated Outcomes

Strategic Management Plan Target Areas (check one)
	Construction	Manufacturing Amputations
	Non-Construction
Strategic Management Plan Areas of Emphasis (check all applicable)
	Amputations in Construction	Oil and Gas Field Services
	Blast Furnaces and Basic Steel Products	Preserve Fruits and Vegetables
	Blood Lead Levels	Public Warehousing and Storage
	Concrete, Gypsum and Plaster Products	Ship/Boat Building and Repair
	Ergo/Musculoskeletal	Silica-Related Disease
	Landscaping/Horticultural Services

Section 1 General Partnership Information

Date of Evaluation Report

Evaluation Period
Start Date		End Date

Evaluation Contact Person
Originating Office

Partnership Coverage
# Active Employers		# Active Employees

Industry Coverage (note range or specific SIC and NAICS for each partner)
Partner	SIC	NAICS

Section 2 Activities Performed

Note whether an activity was required by the OSP and whether it was performed
	Required	Performed
a. Training
b. Consultation Visits
c. Safety and Health Management Systems Reviewed/Developed
d. Technical Assistance
e. VPP-Focused Activities
f. OSHA Enforcement Inspections
g. Offsite Verifications
h. Onsite Non-Enforcement Interactions
i. Participant Self-Inspections
j. Other Activities

2a. Training (if performed, provide the following totals)
Training sessions conducted by OSHA staff
Training sessions conducted by non-OSHA staff
Employees trained
Training hours provided to employees
Supervisors/managers trained
Training hours provided to supervisors/managers
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2b. Consultation Visits (if performed, provide the following total)
Consultation visits to partner sites
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2c. Safety and Health Management Systems (if performed, provide the following total)
Number of systems implemented or improved using the 1989 Guidelines as a model
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2d. Technical Assistance (if performed, note type and by whom)
	Provided by OSHA Staff	Provided by Partners	Provided by Other Party
Conference/Seminar Participation
Interpretation/Explanation of Standards or OSHA Policy
Abatement Assistance
Speeches
Other (please specify)
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2e. VPP-Focused Activities (if performed, provide the following totals)
Partners/participants actively seeking VPP participation
Applications submitted
VPP participants
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2f. OSHA Enforcement Activity (if performed, provide the following totals for any programmed, unprogrammed, and verification-related inspections)
OSHA enforcement inspections conducted
OSHA enforcement inspections in compliance
OSHA enforcement inspections with violations cited
Average number of citations classified as Serious, Repeat, and Willful
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2g. Offsite Verification (if performed provide the following total)
Offsite verifications performed
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2h. Onsite Non-Enforcement Verification (if performed provide the following total)
Onsite non-enforcement verifications performed
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2i. Participant Self-Inspections (if performed provide the following totals)
Self-inspections performed
Hazards and/or violations identified and corrected/abated
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)

2j. Other Activities (briefly describe other activities performed)

Section 3 Illness and Injury Information*

Year	Hours	Total Cases	TCIR	# of Days Away from Work Restricted and Transferred Activity Cases	DART
2006
2007
2008
Total
Three-Year Rate (2006-2008)
BLS National Average for 2004
Baseline

Comments

*Sample Chart – not required format

Section 4 Partnership Plans, Benefits, and Recommendations

Changes and Challenges (check all applicable)
	Changes	Challenges
Management Structure
Participants
Data Collection
Employee Involvement
OSHA Enforcement Inspections
Partnership Outreach
Training
Other (specify)
Comments

Plans to Improve (check all applicable)
	Improvements	N/A
Meet more often
Improve data collection
Conduct more training
Change goals
Comments

Partnership Benefits (check all applicable)
Increased safety and health awareness
Improved relationship with OSHA
Improved relationship with employers
Improved relationship with employees or unions
Increased number of participants
Other (specify)
Comments

Status Recommendation
Partnership Completed
Continue/Renew
Continue with the following provisions:

Terminate (provide explanation)

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