Associated Builders and Contractors Honors Gilbane with its STEP Diamond Award for Safety

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Gilbane Building Company and its job site safety programs were honored recently by the Associated Builders and Contractors with its Diamond Award. Given as part of its Safety Training and Evaluation Process program, the Diamond Award is the highest level recognition offered by this national construction industry association.

“We are proud of this safety recognition from our peers in the industry,” remarked Tony O"Dea, Gilbane vice president and director of corporate safety. “Our programs are the result of a companywide effort to develop and maintain comprehensive safety training and operational procedures for the more than 13,000 employees, contractors, partners and clients working on our job sites worldwide. Our goal is to take every step possible to ensure that everyone who comes onto a job goes home safely to her or his family that night.”

Established in 1989 by the ABC National Environment, Health & Safety Committee, the STEP program was developed and written by contractors, for contractors. Candidates must meet stringent safety requirements including:

  • A comprehensive Safety program meeting 20 key elements of ABC's self-score audit including a documented substance abuse program.
  • Site supervisory personnel who have completed a OSHA 10-hour construction safety course or equivalent; designated safety personnel with OSHA 30-hour, construction safety course training or equivalent.
  • Site-specific safety and health programs in place.
  • Employees actively involved in safety and health program by participation in self-audits, site inspections, job hazard analyses, safety and health program reviews, safety training, near-miss investigations, and trained in identification and control of hazards specific to the contractor's work sites.

In addition, a Diamond Award honoree must have an injury incidence rate at least 50 percent below the national construction average for each of the past three years, and EMR at or below 0.70.

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