Thomas Construction Group has received a nationally recognized award from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

The ABC recognized the Wilmington-headquartered full-service general contractor and presented the STEP Platinum award at the ABC Carolinas Safety and HR Conference in Concord on Sept 17, according to a press release.

STEP Platinum award "demonstrates that Thomas Construction Group leads the nation with its safety program," officials with the company said the release.

ABC is a national construction industry trade association representing nearly 21,000 chapter members.

The STEP (Safety Training Evaluation Process) is a resource designed specifically to support ABC members in the development and continued improvement of safety and training efforts, with a collective goal of ensuring continued worker well-being and health.

The qualification requirements for the platinum level include, a total recordable incident rate 25 percent below North American Industry Classification System at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics code average; an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) below 0.90; Occupational Safety and Health Administration Forms (OSHA) 300 and 300A from the previous 3 years;  zero fatalities resulting in OSHA Citations from the last 3 years; and completion/evaluation of a Key Component system that audits the company-wide safety program.

“We are excited to achieve platinum status again in 2017. This award shows our management and employee’s commitment and dedication to safety in the workplace,” Carl Weatherington, corporate safety director, said in the release.