Top 4 safety practices that slash construction incident rates: ABC report

by anthony_capkun_2 | 5 May 2026 10:38 am

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Contractors who prioritize toolbox talks, substance abuse prevention programs, and employee participation in health & safety (H&S) efforts achieve measurable improvements in both performance and reputation, according to Associated Builders and Contractors[2].

“When leaders refuse to compromise on safety, they set the standard for the entire industry,” said ABC senior director of health and safety Joe Xavier.

“By implementing proven health and safety systems, companies not only protect their workers but also achieve measurable improvements in performance and reputation in the marketplace.”

ABC’s 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report[3] contains findings from more than 1.3 billion hours of work completed by participants in the construction, heavy construction, civil engineering, and specialty trades in 2025. It identifies several H&S foundations that reduce total recordable incident rates (TRIRs) and days away, restricted, or transferred (DART) rates:

Frequency of toolbox talks. Companies that conduct daily toolbox talks reduce TRIRs by 59% and DART rates by 61% compared to companies that hold them monthly.

Substance abuse prevention programs. Robust programs and policies with provisions for drug and alcohol testing (where permitted) lead to a 55% reduction in TRIRs and a 57% reduction in DART rates.

Health and safety meetings. Clear, concise, and consistent communication builds trust, culture, and an understanding that every worker is empowered to keep jobsites safe. Companies that follow best practices for H&S meetings lower TRIRs by 52% and DART rates by 54%.

Employee participation. Leaders must build strong relationships, listen actively, and seek input from front-line workers on how to improve safety year after year. Companies that follow best practices on engaging the workforce reduce TRIRs by 55% and DART rates by 57%.

The report also identifies six core practices that construction safety leaders use to identify hazards and eliminate or minimize them:

• Planning for project health and safety
• Top leadership engagement
• Leading indicators
• Incident investigation
• Trailing indicators
• Behavior-based safety observations

ABC offers contractors its STEP Health & Safety Management System[4] to help them identify opportunities for improvement in their health & safety programs and lower their total recordable incident rates.

“STEP can help any construction contractor reinforce its commitment to the well-being of its workforce,” said Xavier. “The 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report is a blueprint for industry leaders and workers to deliver projects safely and protect what is most important to us—our people.”

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/news/top-4-safety-practices-that-slash-construction-incident-rates-abc-report/

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