KHS&S Achieves Safety Milestone – ABC STEP Platinum

Congratulations to our KHS&S safety professionals and to every KHS&S team member on achieving Platinum in the 2025 Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC)  STEP Safety Management System.  This is the first Platinum ranking in the company’s history.

Founded more than 30 years ago, STEP is a proven benchmarking system that helps construction companies measure and strengthen their safety processes.  Companies are evaluated and scored on multiple key safety indicators. Ratings range from Diamond, the highest, to Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Participant.

“Achieving STEP Platinum is more than just an award,” says Erik Santiago, president, KHS&S-East Coast. “It is a validation of our team’s hard work and a reminder of our responsibility to consistently strive for high safety standards that allow our employees to safely return home every night.”

This high achievement requires the collective participation of all levels of the company, Santiago explained. This includes leadership, employees, clients and trade partners, all of whom share the core value of ensuring a safe working environment.

“Over the past year, we have taken significant steps to elevate our safety culture,” says Jesey Rodriguez, safety director, KHS&S-East Coast.  “These steps help ensure each employee and trade partner has the tools and knowledge to perform tasks safely and efficiently.  I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s efforts and outstanding results.”

In addition to Rodriguez, the core KHS&S safety team consists of Corey Pawlak ASP, regional safety manager-Orlando; Gerber Gomez, regional safety manager-South Florida, and Mario Ramirez, regional safety manager-Dallas/Austin.

Rodriguez says there were four key initiatives that contributed to STEP Platinum.  These include (1) an enhanced safety orientation program, (2) continuous safety training, (3) field leadership excellence, and (4) an exceptional safety performance.  In 2024, the company had no accidents involving days away from work and reported only seven OSHA recordable cases from more than 705,000 hours worked by all employees.

“We don’t intend to rest on this achievement,”  Rodriguez adds.  “We must stay vigilant and remain committed to continuous improvement, innovation and to setting new benchmarks in safety excellence.”