7 Ways to Improve Construction Safety
For the past nine years, construction companies have turned to Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for insights into best practices derived from their STEP Health and Safety Management System. Established in 1989, STEP is a proven system offering contractors and suppliers a free framework for tracking health and safety data and comparing performance with industry peers.
Earlier this year, ABC released its 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report, revealing that top-performing ABC members achieved incident rates 686% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average, resulting in an 85% reduction in total recordable incident rates.
As Joe Xavier, ABC's senior director of health and safety, stated, "Transformational leadership means challenging the status quo and fostering a culture where every incident is seen as preventable... By implementing proven health and safety systems, companies protect their workers and achieve measurable improvements in performance and market reputation."
ABC's research on over 1.3 billion hours of work by construction, heavy construction, civil engineering, and specialty trades workers in 2025 identified six key foundations of industry-leading safety and health practices that reduce Total Recordable Incident Rates (TRIR) and Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rates:
- Frequency of toolbox talks: Companies conducting daily toolbox talks reduce TRIR by 59% and DART rates by 61% compared to those holding them monthly.
- Substance abuse prevention programs: Robust programs with drug and alcohol testing provisions lead to a 55% reduction in TRIR and 57% drop in DART rates.
- Health and safety meetings: Consistent communication builds trust and empowers workers to keep sites safe. Following best practices lowers TRIR by 52% and DART rates by 54%.
- Employee participation: Engaging front-line workers and seeking their input improves safety. This practice reduces TRIR by 55% and DART rates by 57%.
The report also highlights six core leading indicators for hazard identification and mitigation:
- Planning for project health and safety
- Top leadership engagement
- Leading indicators
- Incident investigation
- Trailing indicators
- Behavior-based safety observations