HOUSTON, Texas — Demonstrating safety leadership and a cultural commitment to safety performance, Ref-Chem, a Burns & McDonnell company, has achieved the Diamond level of the Associated Builders and Contractors STEP Safety Management System.

“Safety is an intrinsic value for us,” says Jeff W. Rashall, president of Ref-Chem. “It’s in our DNA. While the diamond certification is a great honor for us, our work is never done when it comes to safety. We always know that we can be safer still, with a mission to be the safest, without question, in our class.”

STEP applicants measure their safety processes and policies on 25 key components through a detailed questionnaire with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incidents. To reach Diamond certification — the highest certification that can be achieved — companies must meet benchmarks in several safety metrics, including Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) and Experience Modification Rate (EMR).

Participating companies score their level of achievement for each component on a weighted point scale and document their incident rates to receive their recognition level.

“An industry-wide commitment to total human health is essential to ensure both the physical and mental health and safety of our workforce,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “As a STEP participant, Ref-Chem leadership has demonstrated a commitment to create the conditions for all to do their work without incident. By implementing proactive safety measures, such as emergency preparedness plans and a sound personal protective equipment policy, Ref-Chem is committed to consistently raising the bar when it comes to safety performance.”

Ref-Chem has enhanced its safety program through its promotion of Safety Fundamentals, a company culture program that highlights and reinforces important safety principles on the jobsite and at home. Further, Ref-Chem ranked as one of the safest contractors in the country in 2019 with a TRIR of .42 and EMR of .57 across nearly 2 million total working hours.

About Ref-Chem

Established in 1957, Ref-Chem, a Burns & McDonnell company, is a heavy industrial construction and maintenance contractor. Headquartered in Houston and Odessa, Texas, Ref-Chem is 100% employee-owned and works with more than 1,000 open-shop craftsmen around the country. For more information, visit ref-chem.com.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities with more than 55 offices, globally. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to be on Fortune’s 2020 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn how we are on call through it all.