Bartlett Cocke General Contractors is proud to announce that it has achieved a Silver Level in Associated Builders and Contractors’ STEP® Health and Safety Management System.
STEP recognizes contractors that demonstrate a sustained commitment to building strong health and safety programs. According to ABC, top-performing STEP participants achieve incident rates significantly below the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average.
The recognition is based on findings in ABC’s 2025 Health and Safety Performance Report, an annual review of construction safety practices and performance. Established in 1989, STEP provides contractors and suppliers with a framework for evaluating their safety processes, comparing performance with industry peers, and identifying opportunities for continued improvement.
For more than six decades, Bartlett Cocke has worked to strengthen a safety culture built on planning, training, consistent expectations, and shared accountability. Every active project conducts weekly jobsite safety meetings, and all workers complete a site-specific orientation before beginning work. Site-Specific Safety Plans and Emergency Action Plans are developed for each project, while pre-installation meetings help teams identify hazards and establish safe work practices before an activity begins.
Bartlett Cocke’s fully staffed Safety Department performs jobsite audits, provides hands-on training, and delivers a consistent companywide safety message. Project teams also use digital inspection and reporting tools to identify trends, correct unsafe conditions and support continuous improvement.
The company also uses storytelling and communication to reinforce the personal responsibility behind jobsite safety. Bartlett Cocke’s safety video was recognized with a National Award of Excellence in the SMPS Marketing Communications Awards, highlighting the company’s efforts to communicate safety in a meaningful, memorable, and people-focused way.
The company’s safety practices include:
- Site-specific safety and emergency action planning
- Job Hazard Analyses and regular toolbox talks
- Pre-installation meetings with trade partners
- Training verification for equipment uses, fall protection and other high-risk activities
- Weekly project wide safety meetings
- Regular jobsite inspections and third-party safety audits
- Stop-work authority for every employee
- Thorough reviews of incidents, near misses and corrective actions
- Dedicated safety oversight for complex or higher-risk construction activities
Bartlett Cocke also evaluates the safety performance of trade partners as part of its subcontractor selection process. Trade partners are expected to maintain written safety programs, provide employee training documentation, and actively participate in the project’s safety planning and reporting requirements.
STEP participants evaluate their safety policies and practices through a detailed questionnaire covering key components of an effective health and safety management system. The process helps companies identify strengths, address gaps, and continuously improve programs designed to reduce jobsite incidents.
Any company can participate in STEP. Visit abc.org/step to begin or continue your safety journey.
