Associated Builders and Contractors has released its 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report, highlighting jobsite practices linked to lower injury rates in construction.
The report found contractors participating in ABC’s STEP Health and Safety Management System achieved incident rates significantly below the industry average tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Based on data from more than 1.3 billion work hours completed in 2025, the report identified several practices tied to lower total recordable incident rates and fewer lost-workday incidents. Companies conducting daily toolbox talks reported lower incident rates than firms holding monthly meetings.
Other factors associated with improved safety performance included employee participation in safety programs, regular safety meetings and substance abuse prevention policies.
The report also highlighted six leading indicators of strong safety programs, including project safety planning, leadership involvement, incident investigations and behavior-based safety observations.
ABC said the STEP program is designed to help contractors benchmark and improve health and safety practices across construction operations.
