Associated Builders & Contractors of Mass. Chapter chairman's message: Attend STEP awards ceremony May 17

Lots of companies say safety is a priority, but we give you the tools to make safety a reality. ABC's Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) was developed for contractors, by contractors more than 20 years ago. STEP, which works for small contractors, large contractors and everyone in between, provides an organized 20-point guide to developing and analyzing safety and loss prevention programs. It incorporates both OSHA required safety data and self-assessments to offer a comprehensive view of a company's entire safety program. And the data prove that it works. In 2009, STEP participants beat the national averages compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in a number of areas. Contractors with strong safety records have the advantage when it comes to both bidding for work and negotiating insurance rates. Taking part in STEP can also lead to recognition at the national and chapter level. In fact, our chapter's eighth annual STEP awards ceremony is May 17 at Montvale Plaza in Stoneham. On this night, the merit shop industry takes a couple of hours to recognize member companies and their employees for dedicating themselves to jobsite safety and continually improving their safety performance. The STEP awards are the biggest event of the year for the Gould Construction Institute, Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts' training affiliate. The Gould, which is fully licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, is always available to assist you with your training and educational needs. Don't wait until someone at your company is injured before you get the training your employees need. Check out the Gould Construction Institute (www.gwgci.org) today. And while you're online, don't forget to go to www.abc.org/stepapp to apply to participate in STEP. Dennis Maguire is the chairma of Mass. Chapter of the Associated Builders & Contractors, Burlington, Mass.