Construction Safety Requirements

Also See: Construction Safety

Sample Material 
    Construction Safety Requirements
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Material in the Members Area

Section 1
   Abrasive Grinding, Access to Medical Records,  Accident Recordkeeping,
   Aerial Lifts, Air Tools, Belt Sanding Machines, Compressed Air,
   Compressed Gas Cylinders, Concrete and Masonry Construction,
   Confined Spaces, Cranes and Derricks, Disposal Chutes

Section 2
   Drinking Water, Electrical Installations, Electrical Work Practices,
   Excavating and Trenching, Explosives and Blasting, Eye and Face Protection,
   Fall Protection

Section 3
   Fire Protection, Flagmen, Flammable and Combustible Liquids,
   Gases-Vapors-Fumes-Dusts-Mists, General Duty Clause, Hand Tools,
   Hazard Communication, Hazardous Waste Operations, Head Protection,
   Hearing Protection, Heating Devices (Temporary)

Section 4
   Hoists, Housekeeping, Illumination, Ladders, Lasers, Lead, Lift Slab,
   Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Medical Services & First Aid ,
   Motor Vehicles & Mechanized Equipment

Section 5
   Personal Protective Equipment, Powder-Actuated Tools, Power Transmission,
   Process Safety Management, Radiation, Railings, Reinforced Steel,
   Respiratory Protection, Rollover Protection, Safety Nets, Saws

Section 6
   Scaffolds, Stairs

Section 7
   Storage, Tire Cages, Toeboards, Toilets, Underground Construction,
   Wall Openings, Washing Facilities, Welding, Cutting, and Heating,
   Wire Ropes, Chains, and Ropes, Woodworking Machinery

Construction Safety
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Construction Safety requires that employers assess the construction site to determine if the walking or working surfaces on which employees are to work have the strength and structural integrity to safely support workers. Employees are not permitted to work on those construction or facility surfaces until it has been determined that the surfaces have the requisite strength and structural integrity to support the workers. Once employers have determined that the construction site surface is safe for employees to work on, the employer must select one of the options listed for the work operation if a fall hazard is present.

Construction Site Contractors must follow the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requirements including use safe handling and storage of chemicals. Construction Contractors are required to inform -the-lead contractor of all hazardous substances which may be brought on to the construction site property, including providing the most current Material Safety Data Sheet for each substance. All spills and leaks of hazardous chemicals at the construction site must be immediately reported to the on-site safety supervisor.

Before any excavation actually begins at a construction site, OSHA requires construction contractors to determine the estimated location of utility installations — sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations — that may be encountered during digging to ensure safe construction operations. Also, before starting the excavation, the construction contractor must contact the utility companies or owners involved and inform them, within established or customary local response times, of the proposed work. The construction contractor must also ask the utility companies or owners to find the exact location of the underground installations. To ensure safe operations at construction sites, iIf underground installations are exposed, OSHA regulations also require that they be removed, protected or properly supported. When all the necessary specific information about the construction job site is assembled, the contractor can safely determine the amount, kind, and cost of the safety equipment needed. A careful inventory of the safety items on hand should be made before deciding what additional safety material must be acquired.

SCAFFOLD SAFETY

The most common accident involving scaffolds at construction sites is a fall to a lower level. That's quite obvious, since the purpose of erecting scaffolds is to provide a safe place to work when you must work at a height above ground level. It is up to the construction contractor to safely determine the exact scaffold requirements to provide for safety around scaffolds.

All construction site scaffolds must be constructed to safely support a weight four times the maximum intended load. For example, a scaffold normally expected to hold a 200 pound man and
his twenty pounds of material should be designed to support 880 pounds without breaking. To be on the safe side, you should never load a scaffold beyond the maximum intended weight. Always inspect the construction site scaffold. Make sure the planks are laid with their edges close together so no tools or materials can slip through and strike someone below. Plank ends must be overlapped at least twelve inches or nailed, so the planks will not move when you walk on them. Construction scaffold planks must not extend more than 18 inches or less than six inches beyond the supports. If the planks extend more than 18 inches, you run the risk of walking on unsupported ends.

Construction Site Hand & Power Tools

Professionals in the construction industry take pride in their crafts and certainly in the tools they use. any tools that are designed to have guards and handles must have those guards and handles unaltered and they must be in place at all times.

Tying back a guard on a saw doesn't make any sense and anyone removing a guard, handle, or using an unguarded tool will be subject to dismissal from the jobsite. It's just too important to take chances. The power supply for electrical tools must be disconnected when not in use or when changing blades, bits, discs or other routine maintenance tasks.

Loose clothing, rings or other jewelry cannot be worn around operating tools or machines. Keep shirt sleeves buttoned. Industrial leather gloves should be worn when using tools. Before you use any grinding tools, you must be trained and authorized. Using grinders without proper training is asking for trouble.

When grinders are rotating, the operator must assure the operator is in a balanced position and the momentum of the disc will carry the tool away from the operator if it becomes stuck.

Deadman switches are required on all tools. If you release the power trigger, the tool must shut off. Lockon devices are prohibited. Make sure all hand and powered hand tools are in serviceable condition before you use them.

Construction Sub-Contractor Safety

As a Construction Industry Contractor, it's important for you and all employees on the jobsite to work and act safely. It's a responsibility.

Regardless of your job, your trade or your relationship with the General Contractor, or other contractors working on the job site, there are basic safety rules that must be followed at all times. Each company or contractor has the responsibility to make sure all employees follow safety and health rules and any specific or special rules of the jobsite.

Each contractor should have a written Injury and Illness Prevention Plan for employees that documents the job safety and health requirements and to make sure all employees are trained in these requirements. Employee safety training, regardless of job experience is mandatory. General safe work practices are important, as is specific training for those jobs with potential special hazards, such as crane operation, powder actuated tools, welding, grinding or other specific type jobs. Each employer on the job site is responsible for all training documentation, OSHA recordkeeping and other required documentation. All employers on a job site are responsible for a written and properly implemented Hazard Communications program, which includes Material Safety Data Sheets for each chemical on the worksite.

In addition to appropriate worker compensation and liability coverages for all employees, it's important that adequate first aid supplies and trained persons be available. Emergency telephone numbers for fire, police and paramedics should be maintained by all work site employers.