Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 7, 2016 – For the first time in CD Barnes history, the construction company will be receiving a Diamond Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) Award from Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) National Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Committee.
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, CD Barnes Construction is one of Michigan’s oldest and most respected construction companies. The company offers construction management, design build, and general contracting services with a reputation for high safety standards.
Established in 1989 by the ABC National EH&S Committee, the STEP program was created by contractors, for contractors to analyze and develop effective safety programs. In order to receive the Diamond Award, the awardee must meet the minimum score of 20 Key Components, have an incidence rate at least 50 percent below the national BLS average for the applicant’s NAICS code in the current application year and each of the past two consecutive application years, no fatality or catastrophic incident within the application year and no fatality or catastrophic incident within the previous three consecutive years which resulted in an OSHA citation, no willful or repeat OSHA citations (federal or state) within the application year or the previous two consecutive years, have an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) that is 0.7 (0.8 < 100 employees) or three-year average workers’ comp loss ratio at or below 10 percent, have signed the Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace Pledge and have in place a documented substance abuse program that includes a drug/alcohol screening process, site supervisory personnel have completed OSHA 10-hour construction safety course or equivalent, have designated safety personnel with OSHA 30-hour construction safety course training or equivalent, site-specific safety and health programs in place, employees must be actively involved in safety and health program and trained in identification and control of hazards specific to the contractor’s worksite(s) safety, submit both the OSHA Form 300 with names removed and OSHA Form 300A with the application for years 2013-2015, along with submitting their completed application and fee to ABC. For more information about the STEP Award, download this PDF booklet.
“Over the past few years I have invested an incredible amount of time and resources into the continuous improvement of our safety program by implementing new policies and procedures,” said Ellen Frey, Safety Director at CD Barnes Construction. “Our entire team is ecstatic to be recognized by ABC with the Diamond Award, the highest level of safety award in the industry.”
CD Barnes is continually recognized for excellence in safety by receiving this award and others. ABC has awarded CD Barnes 12 Platinum and 3 Gold STEP Awards, and 2 National Safety Excellence Awards over the past 16 years. There were only 4 ABC, Western Michigan Chapter members that received a Diamond STEP Award last year.
CD Barnes has a history of high standards for safety. They recently marked their eighteenth consecutive year of having zero lost workdays due to injuries or illness—a rare and unmatched record in the construction industry. In an effort to continuously improve their safety program, the contractor does things like partnering with MIOSHA to conduct job site safety inspections, attending various MIOSHA training seminars, conducting job site Toolbox Talks, and participating in National Safety Stand Downs.
CD Barnes will officially receive the Diamond STEP Award from ABC on August 23rd.
