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Scaffolding is a temporary type of structure that is used in construction. This type of structure works with a series of platforms and multiple levels that aide in constructing structures that are tall in height. Scaffolding can be made out of many types of materials. Some of the most common are wood or metal, but in some Asian countries the most common scaffold building material is bamboo.
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Before beginning any type of construction project, one should be knowledgeable on basic construction safety. Not only does this help prevent minor accidents it can also save lives on the job site. Construction safety is one basic tool that all workers need to be equipped with on any job.
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With the advent of construction booming, it is now more important than ever before to be aware of your surroundings and protect yourself against potential hazards in the workplace. It is not only the responsibility of the company and job foreman to make certain that all risks and hazards are addressed, it is also very important that the workers be aware of their surroundings and take every precaution possible to prevent injury to themselves or others. Construction safety awareness can result in saving lives and a drastic reduction of preventable accidents on the job site.
There is no question about it, safety must be the highest priority for anyone on a job site. There are guidelines and protocol that are enacted to maintain a safe environment and straying from this path can result in injuries or fatalities. This is why safety in the workplace has become an ever growing concern, and companies are investing a lot of money in making sure the highest standards are being utilized. There are manuals and procedures that every worker must be familiar with, and most companies hire specialist to teach safety classes on a yearly basis to ensure that every employee is updated on the information.
There are many reasons why safety has become a hot topic for employers everywhere; worker safety, adhering to government standards, fines levied against the businesses for violating safety codes, injured workers, rising cost for workers compensation insurance and lawsuits are just a few of the many reasons. Laws are designed to protect the company as well as the workers who do the jobs, but without proper safety orientation the laws are completely useless.
On the job injury factors on two issues: directly and indirectly. Directly an injured worker can cost a company an enormous amount of money in lost revenue,workers compensation claims, medical insurance claims and lost wages and injury pay, are just to name a few. Direct factors are the only ones that are going to be covered by the companies insurance carrier, so there is no direct loss of revenue to the company per say.
Indirectly, when a worker is injured on a job site accident, there are many other things that one must consider. When there is a worker injured on a job site, management must deal with the inconvenience of a lost worker as well as the fallout that occurs because of the injury. There may be lawsuits,the costs of legal counsel, fines, and whether or not there is a third party involved in the accident, these factors all play an important indirect role in safety violations.
When workers, managers and supervisors adhere and enforce the safety rules and guidelines they are protecting themselves, their workers, the public and their profits. When you can prevent an accident in the workplace it will save you time and revenue, by increase workplace effectiveness and in the cost of insurance premiums. Failure to be in compliance with safety guidelines results in many obstacles that a business must incur, so if accidents can be prevented this will assist the business to operate more smoothly.
Good safety practices mean that the job is running smoothly which in turn generates more company revenue, and more revenue trickles down from management to the workers. Safety is not just a word it is a concept that must be given serious credence, it must be of the utmost importance to everyone involved. The benefits of having a company with a good safety record are that you generate a good impression of your company and draw in a better quality of workers. All of these factors tied together, and help to create a company with a a reputation for the highest standard of safety and this in turns generates more direct revenue for the company, so in a word, safety pays.
Despite your best efforts to create a safe workplace, there may still be accidents. In many cases, an accident traumatizes a company, with concentrated efforts devoted to helping any victims, making temporary repairs or adjustments at the jobsite or shop, and trying to get the daily business flow going again. Stopping to notify OSHA is likely to not be one of your immediate priorities. But at what point does an “accident” qualify as being required to be reported to OSHA?
Suppose your foreman calls from a jobsite. He tells you that one of your workers has fallen, and requires hospitalization. Do you ever need to call OSHA about the incident? Surprisingly, the answer is “No”. In fact, the criteria for qualifying an incident as reportable are much higher.
According to Federal regulations, an accident is required to be reported to your local OSHA office when:
A fatality has occurred.
or…
Three or more workers require in-patient (overnight stay) hospitalization from a particular incident.
Note that the criteria above will apply to a thirty (30) day window from the occurrence of the accident. For instance, if within thirty days from a particular incident a worker dies as a result, at that time the accident is reportable.
Another example would be three workers working on a roof deck. The roof deck collapses, with all three workers falling. Two workers are rushed to the hospital where they each spend at least one overnight stay. The third worker, however, is treated for cuts and bruises and released without an overnight stay. If within thirty days, the third worker is admitted for an overnight stay (say, due to a possible concussion that symptoms later indicated), then at the point in which the third worker stayed overnight is when the accident becomes reportable.
Once an incident is determined to be reportable to OSHA, it’s time to take a deep breath and get on with it immediately. The notification needs to be made within the following time limits.
Within eight (8) hours.
or…
Within eight (8) hours from when the incident is reported to any agent or employee of the contractor.
Furthermore, OSHA requires the following information to be given at the time of reporting a qualifying accident.
Company name
Location of the incident
Time of the incident
Number of fatalities and/or
Number of hospitalized workers
Contact person
Phone number
A brief description of the accident
This report should go to the local OSHA area office. To help with this, OSHA has established an emergency number of (800) 321-OSHA. Upon calling this number, you’ll be directed through a menu. After you’re directed to enter your zip code, your call will be forwarded to the appropriate OSHA office. Notification may be made by phone, facsimile, or hand-carried letter. Naturally, any phone or fax notices should be followed up in writing for verification, and to ensure no misinterpretations occur.
Failure to report a qualifying accident in time may result in fines of up to $5,000. Naturally, some mitigating circumstances may apply, such as if the accident occurred at night, or on a weekend or holiday. Also, if the stress of the moment caused you to forget to notify immediately. The main fact OSHA would consider is if the contractor actually contacted OSHA first- not the other way around. Voluntarily calling OSHA first, say 24 hours after and accident, while technically a violation, may not be pursued as such by OSHA. However, if OSHA contacts you at any time after the 8 hour expiration has run out, you will likely be cited for failure to notify.
A contractor contacted me several months ago, and said he was “waiting for OSHA to come to the door.” When asked why, he said that one of his workers (who wasn’t wearing a safety harness) was killed from a fall. He was talking how he had expected OSHA to come to his office, but it had been two weeks. He believed that OSHA automatically visits contractors in such a circumstance- and sometimes it may be true. In this case the contractor was clearly in violation, and the likely eventual discovery of this accident by OSHA would lead to serious consequences for the contractor. Upon my advice, he promptly notified OSHA with his explanation- not good, but the best course under the circumstances.
Also, be careful that the information given is correct and truthful. The above list is the minimum required by OSHA, and should be factual, but may be brief. Remember, penalties for false statements by you or your workers may result in fines up to $10,000 and or imprisonment of up to 6 months!
If an accident happens, there is no need to rush to the phone. Obviously the first order of business is to take care of your workers first, then eliminate any hazards causing or resulting from the incident, and then returning the jobsite to a safe condition.
At that point a careful and clear assessment should be done to determine if the accident qualifies for reporting. If it is determined that the accident qualifies, then a notification report should be carefully prepared in accordance with the above list, and OSHA notified within the 8 hour time limit of the accident’s occurrence.
What qualifies as a reportable accident. should be understood by not only your workers, but also any subcontractors working onsite to prevent unnecessary reporting of an accident. A notice should be added to your poster board showing the two criteria which qualifies an incident as reportable. Many workers and subcontractors are quick to call OSHA when any accident occurs under the incorrect premise that it is necessary. Therefore, this should be discussed with all workers and other contractors on a project so that everyone is familiar with the regulations.
However, remember it’s still everyone’s responsibility onsite to report any safety violations or unsafe work practices to the controlling, or general contractor to keep the jobsite safe. Contractors working together to control unsafe conditions is a major step to preventing a reportable accident from occurring.
There are many reasons why one could choose for building a temporary stage, for the Obama Inauguration it is imperative to construct a stage large enough to accommodate the occasion, but still be easy to tear down once the festivities conclude. For the prestigious event, workers must pay close attention to detail and safety is of the utmost importance. There are many details that require consideration prior to construction, workers will visit the site, take measurements, write up a job specification list and instructions.
Building a temporary stage can be quite demanding and time consuming. The preliminary measurements must be done correctly, the materials must be ordered correctly and the plans must contain all the necessary information and allow for any possible inconsistencies or delays that may occur. By allowing for any setbacks, this will make it easier when it comes time to do the actual construction of the temporary stage.
It is very important to use the right tools, make sure the blades of instruments are sharpened and in proper working condition, safety goggles and other protective eyewear must be worn, make certain power tools are properly grounded and be mindful of loose clothing or hair so that it not be caught in power tools. Also of importance is to make sure loads of materials are properly carried and moved, be sure to wear steel toed work shoes and use proper lifting procedures. All of these factors combined will ensure proper work safety rules are observed and will eliminate the possibility of any injuries. Work place safety is a very important issue and by enacting a few simple rules, contractors can be certain that everyone on the job site is well protected and nobody is acting in a careless fashion that may lead to needless injuries.
Once the stage has been safely constructed and the event takes place, then the teardown must be done. Nails must be removed, boards disassembled and materials must be disposed of. Just as it was while constructing the stage, carefully deconstructing is just as important. The same safety standards observed during installation must be observed for worker protection. In addition to simple safety practices, a plan must be enacted for the tearing down of the temporary stage and the left-over materials must be disposed of in the proper manner. Project managers are required to contact a disposal company and have a dumpster hauled to the work site for disposing of any waste or used materials, or fines or penalties may be incurred.
With proper plans and safety procedures in place, workers are ensured of being safe and protected during the job. Simple common sense and good decision making are very important when doing any construction job; workers must be mindful of everything going on around them and strive to meet safety requirements imposed by law. Through the entire construction and tearing-down process, must constantly be observed for the job to flow smoothly and efficiently.
In reality, any type of business is concerned with the health and safety of their employees. It is very important to reduce the number of injuries and accidents that occurs in the job place. This is why there are very explicit guidelines outlined in the safety manuals. Every year, companies spend thousands of dollars to train their workers in work place safety, this investment safeguards their employees against being injured and also knowing what to do in the event of an emergency.
Depending on what type of work environment is involved, there are safety guidelines that are in place. There is a plan outlined for each piece of equipment used, right down to the safety belts workers wear. It is important that each worker knows how to protect themselves and others on the job. If not, it can make for a hazardous work environment and cause needless mistakes that can result in fatalities.
If you work in construction, your biggest safety concern would be injury due to falling or tripping. In 2003 alone there were 1107 injuries related to falling and 1073 major injuries due to tripping. These injuries could have been avoided, had the workers been properly trained in health and safety.
When you are working in a construction environment, there are bound to be several different types of contractors on the job site. The site will more than likely be littered with cords, scaffold and equipment. It is up to you to make sure you are aware of everything going on around you and that your fellow workers are utilizing safety protocols. You are responsible for you and others as well, because you are part of a team and safety should be the highest priority for everyone involved.
It is also important that you have a system in place to ensure good work place order. This includes making sure that the workplace is kept tidy. Your worker traffic should be kept separated from pedestrians, this protects them as well as you. Walkways and steps should be kept cleared of anything that may trip someone, this is very important in the event of an emergency situation. Together with your fellow employees, a few simple steps can save lives and keep the workplace safe.
Anyone who has worked in construction, knows how dangerous the environment can be. This is why it is so important to follow the OSHA (Occupational Safety Hazard Association), guidelines. By adherence to the OSHA standards, you protect yourself and others against needless injuries. These guidelines are enacted to ensure that every worker is conscientious and aware of the importance of safety.
Each year thousands of workers are injured and sadly, some are even killed. This is why it is so important for you to comply with safety guidelines and protocols. If you are working on a scaffold, make sure that it is checked before and after each shift, make certain that safety belts are in working order and not damaged, discard trash and debris, put safety netting under roofs to catch someone in the event of a fall, and wear your safety equipment and goggles. These again are just a few of the many things you can do to protect yourself and others.
By utilizing the guidelines in the OSHA manual, you may not prevent injuries, but you can considerably lessen the likelihood. You should always do whatever possible to practice safety protocols in the workplace. If you regularly incorporate it into your daily work routine it will become second nature. By doing this, the life you save may be your own.
Most jobsites encountered have more than one contractor involved. If you’re the only contractor on a particular jobsite, and a CSHO [Compliance and Health Safety Officer] discovers violations, you would receive any citations and fines- simple.
However, the way OSHA treats jobsites with more than one contractor may surprise you.
For instance general contractors who disregard hazards created by other subcontractors onsite may find themselves with the same citation as well! In most cases, immediate [written if necessary] notification of any violations to the controlling contractor onsite to quickly eliminate the hazard will not only limit possible worker injury, but also prevent widespread citations passed out to all contractors onsite regardless of their perceived involvement.
Lets take a look at a hypothetical situation that could occur on a jobsite. Say a construction project has a construction manager and a general contractor. An excavation subcontractor opens up for an 8′ deep foundation, which is then poured. Before backfill is placed however, the plumbing contractor places a 2×10 board across the 8′ deep excavation for a walkway. Various subcontractors then walk across the board to gain access to the building interior to perform work. A CSHO observes the various trades crossing the makeshift ramp, contacts the construction manager, and conducts an inspection resulting in the citation of this single violation.
Question: Which contractors could be cited?
Answer: Every contractor onsite could be cited!
OSHA has defined who on a multiple-contractor jobsite can be cited for a single violation. This comes from the 29 CFR Part 1926.16 (a) through (d) titled “Rules of Construction”. The following applicable statements illustrate OSHA’s position with regard to each contractor’s responsibility concerning safety hazards.
(a) “…the prime contractor and his subcontractors may…make an agreement…thus relieving the subcontractors from the actual but not any legal, responsibility…”
(a) “…In no case shall the prime contractor be relieved of the overall responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the part [the OSHA Act] for all work to be performed under the contract.”
(b) “…the prime contractor assumes all obligations under the [OSHA Act] …, whether or not he subcontracts any part of the work.”
(c) “…[the subcontractor] also assumes responsibility for complying with the [the OSHA Act] with respect to [his portion of work]. Thus, the prime contractor assumes the entire responsibility under the contract and the subcontractor assumes responsibility with respect to his portion of the work. With respect to subcontracted work, the prime contractor and any subcontractor…shall be deemed to have joint responsibility.”
(d) “Where joint responsibility exists, both the prime contractor and his subcontractor[s] regardless of tier, shall be … subject to [the OSHA Act].”
OSHA has interpreted the above statements to define classes of contractors which can be cited for a violation. There are four types:
This is defined as the contractor who by action or inaction allows his workers to be exposed to a hazard. In the hypothetical case described before, any workers crossing the makeshift ramp would allow OSHA to cite [and fine!] their employers- even if their employer had no knowledge of this happening!
This is defined as the contractor who actually created the hazard. In this case, the plumbing contractor or perhaps the excavation contractor would be determined as having created the hazard by not backfilling, or at least providing a walkway with handrails.
This is defined as the contractor who has the authority to ensure that hazardous conditions are corrected. In this case the construction manager would have that role and could be cited for not having the hazard corrected.
This is defined as the contractor who has the responsibility to actually correct the hazardous conditions. In this case the general contractor would likely have had that role and could be cited for not correcting the hazard..
As you can see in this example, many contractors can be cited and fined for each violation, depending on a contractor’s involvement- even if peripheral.
Now, what can you do to protect yourself from getting caught “in the net” with other contractors when violations are discovered? Again OSHA has developed a list of items as a defense to a citation- however,
ALL ITEMS MUST APPLY:
From a review of the above items it would seem that each contractor onsite in effect has to make their own safety inspection of the jobsite prior to, and during the duration of work.
While this may seem impractical, safety is indeed everyone’s concern. Contractors who show written evidence of a practice of notifying other contractors of their potential safety hazards may go a long way in a favorable finding from a CSHO when handing out citations.
Another way to help your position whether you’re a general or subcontractor is to have safety as a regular topic of discussion. Almost every construction project has either weekly or monthly progress meetings. This is an excellent time for you to place jobsite safety on the agenda as an item to be discussed. This is where new hazards seen by any contractor can be brought out, and a plan to quickly eliminate it accomplished. Any new hazardous materials can be determined, the jobsite MSDS sheets updated, and all contractors brought up to speed as to what hazardous materials are onsite [another OSHA requirement].
All contractors onsite should work together to promote safety. At times any contractor can “slip up”, and a word from the general or construction manager can keep everyone onsite not only safe- but safe from possible collateral citations. Looking out for each other should be part of any construction project.
An OSHA safety course can help keep you from having to deal with these issues. Contact us today for a materials safety manual for your jobsite.
This Subpart has some regulations that apply to highway contractors. From basic compliance to fueling, heating and storage requirements, keeping an outside jobsite safe from fire and explosion hazards is important. Any DOT requirements for fire protection are not addressed here.
Section 1926.150 (a)(c) – General requirements; first of all requires the contractor to have a fire prevention program. While this program need not be lengthy, it is required to be discussed with workers as a part of their overall safety training. This written program may also be a part of your overall safety plan.
Section 1926.152 (a)(e)(g) – Flammable & combustible liquids; first and foremost need to be stored in approved containers. One of the most common violations is storing fuels in plastic or metal gas cans which don’t meet OSHA’s requirements. Approved containers for flammable and combustible liquids are metal, with an internal flame-arrester tube in the filler throat and a spring-loaded self-closing cap. Any area used for refueling of equipment of 5 gallons or more requires a 25 ft. separation from other operations. In addition, there can be no smoking in the immediate area, and a “No Smoking” sign shall be posted. Therefore, gravity-fed tanks on “farm stands” and even fuel tanks on pickup beds should have permanent “No Smoking” signs with the 25 ft. separation posted.
Section 1926.153 (h) – Liquefied petroleum gas (LP-gas); used for temporary heaters have some special requirements. LP tanks which are connected to heaters by a hose are required to be placed at least 6 ft. away from the heaters. In addition, heaters cannot be directed toward any LP tanks unless there is at least a 20 ft. separation. Another consideration is that barricading or some equivalent means is necessary to protect any LP tanks which could be struck or damaged by vehicle and equipment operations.
Section 1926.154 (a) – Temporary heating devices; do have one regulation that may affect highway contractors. Heaters shall be located at least 10 ft. away from any combustible tarpaulins, canvas, or other coverings. In addition, the adjacent coverings need to be tied down to prevent winds from upsetting the heater.
This Subpart, as the title implies, affects highway contractors to a great extent. Naturally, right-of-way work is subject to Federal, State, and sometimes local DOT regulations which in many cases may be more restrictive that the OSHA regulations. However, the following are highlights from this Subpart.
Section 1926.200(g) – Traffic signs; requires that “Construction areas shall be posted with legible traffic signs at points of hazard”. Additionally, worker protection signage shall be made in accordance with ANSI standards D6.1-1971 (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Street and Highways). Again, when working in a DOT- regulated area, there are typically more stringent signage requirements.
Section 1926.201(a) – Signaling; requires flagmen (or other appropriate traffic controls) onsite when the signs, signals, or barricades being used still do not provide the necessary protection on or adjacent to a highway or street. Flagmen are required to use 18” square red flags, or paddles. When working at night, flagmen shall use red lights. At all times, flagmen shall wear red or orange warning garments, but at night, the warning garments shall have reflectorized material. Any signaling the flagmen make shall be in accordance with the same ANSI standard D6.1-1971 as above.
Section 1926.202 – Barricades; are required to conform to the same ANSI standard D6.1-1971 as above. There are no specific barricade requirements, but again the DOT standards typically apply.
The information as outlined in this article focuses primarily on the requirements for highway and roadway contractors. Please refer to these sections of the CFR (including other work activities you perform) for a more in-depth review of these regulations.
This is part two of a two-part series on Right-of Way working requirements. Read Part one of this article.
Omni Safety offers safety plans and safety training for construction industry leaders and contractors. Contact Us today for a custom-written safety manual for your jobsite.