A M King achieves world-class safety standards through Diamond level ABC STEP program
July 20, 2021A M King, an integrated Design-Build firm with an established presence in the Upstate, has achieved Diamond level in Associated Builders and Contractor’s (ABC) STEP Safety Management System, meaning the company is 655 percent safer than the industry average. Diamond is the highest level of merit-based safety awarded by ABC. Founded more than three decades ago, STEP has evolved into a world-class safety program that dramatically improves safety performance among construction industry participants.
“A M King is proud to again achieve Diamond level safety status through ABC’s STEP program,” says Dan Crist, A M King Vice President. “Our commitment to safety is unparalleled and each year we strive to continue to excel in these efforts.”
STEP participants measure their safety processes and policies on key components through a detailed questionnaire with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incidents.
At A M King, safety is integrated into every facet of company operation. For example, top management actively participates in the safety process; tracks and reviews safety goals and regularly assesses employee safety performance. Employees are engaged and trained in all aspects of the company’s safety process, including new hire participation in a documented safety orientation. A M King reviews all incidents, including good catches and potential significant events (PSE). Final incident outcomes are openly shared across the organization to improve overall safety performance.
A M King has secured a number of ABC Carolinas’ project awards in the company’s 17-year history. Each submission has required considerable demonstration of safety efforts (22 points out of 100 in 2020). Past wins include 16 Excellence in Construction Eagle Awards; two Excellence in Construction Merit Awards; two Design-Build awards; and one Project of the Year finalist designation.
“Safety is a journey, and that journey is possible because of systems like STEP, which enable ABC members like A M King to have a safer and more productive jobsite,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “Committing to total human health is essential to ensure both the physical and mental health and safety of our workforce, and I commend A M King for consistently fulfilling those commitments to raising the bar of safety performance.”
According to ABC’s annual Safety Performance Report, STEP participants, regardless of company size or type of work, can reduce recordable incidents up to 85 percent, making the best performing companies more than eight times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average. Ratings range from Diamond, the highest, to Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Participant.
To learn more about the STEP program, visit abcstep.org.
A M King
A M King is an integrated Design-Build firm based in Charlotte, NC with offices in Greenville, SC and Chicago, IL. An employee-owned company, A M King consistently and successfully delivers quality projects throughout the United States. With an experienced team committed to protecting clients’ assets, the firm provides property consulting, design and engineering, construction, and facility services in key market sectors including food processing, food distribution, industrial manufacturing, and corporate properties.