Construction » Safety and Health Program

Several OSHA standards for the construction industry address safety and health program elements. Following is a list of topics relevant to developing and maintaining a safety and health program, along with some regulatory citations applicable to each topic.


A. Initiate and Maintain Such Programs as May be Necessary to Comply with this Part [29 CFR 1926.20(b)]
B. Management Commitment to Injury and Illness Prevention
  1. Provide employees with sanitary and safe working conditions. [29 CFR 1926.20(a)]
  2. Assign injury and illness prevention responsibilities. [29 CFR 1926.20(b)]
  3. Give injury and illness prevention designees authority to correct hazards. [29 CFR 1926.32(f)]
  4. Ensure employees that they may voice injury and illness prevention concerns without fear of reprisal. [29 CFR 1903.11(d)]
  5. Inform employees of hazards. [29 CFR 1926.21(b), 29 CFR 1926.33, 29 CFR 1926.59, 29 CFR 1926.454, and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Z]
  6. Coordinate hazard communication with other employers on site. [29 CFR 1926.59, 29 CFR 1926.65, and 29 CFR 1926.652]
  7. Post the OSHA State or Federal Poster. [29 CFR 1903.2(a)]
C. Hazard Identification and Determination
  1. Evaluate operations, procedures, facilities, and equipment to identify hazards. [29 CFR 1926.20(a) and 29 CFR 1926.21(b)]
  2. Monitor exposure levels. [29 CFR 1926.55, 29 CFR 1926.62, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Z, and 29 CFR 1926.1101]
  3. Ensure regular injury and illness prevention inspections. [29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2), 29 CFR 1926.703(b), and 29 CFR 1926.1081(g)]
  4. Conduct accident investigations. [29 CFR 1904.4]
  5. Determine if engineering or administrative controls or personnel protective equipment are to be used. [29 CFR 1926.103 and 29 CFR 1926.951]
D. Hazard Elimination and Control
  1. Ensure machines and tools are in safe working order and in compliance with relevant standards. [29 CFR 1926.20(b)(3), 29 CFR 1926.1417(a), and 29 CFR 1926.951]
  2. Institute engineering and work practice controls to eliminate health hazards. [29 CFR 1926.55, 29 CFR 1926.103, and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Z]
  3. Perform housekeeping to remove hazards posed by scrap and debris in work areas. [29 CFR 1926.25, 29 CFR 1926.852, 29 CFR 1926.152(c)(5), and 29 CFR 1926.900(k)(5)]
  4. Provide appropriate personal protective equipment when other controls are infeasible. [29 CFR 1926.28(a) and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart E]
  5. Guarantee safe means of egress. [29 CFR 1926.34]
E. Emergency Response Planning
  1. Develop emergency response plans. [29 CFR 1926.35 and 29 CFR 1926.65(q)]
  2. Develop fire prevention and protection programs. [29 CFR 1926.24, 29 CFR 1926.352, and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart F]
F. First Aid and Medical
  1. Provide medical services, first aid treatment, and supplies. [29 CFR 1926.50(a), 29 CFR 1926.103, 29 CFR 1926.50(c), 29 CFR 1926.50(d), and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Z]
  2. Ensure availability of emergency rescue for injured employees. [29 CFR 1926.50(e), 29 CFR 1926.106(a), 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(6), and 29 CFR 1926.802(b)]
  3. Post emergency numbers for physicians, hospitals, or ambulances. [29 CFR 1926.50(f)]
G. Training
  1. Train employees to recognize hazards. [29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2), 29 CFR 1926.65, 29 CFR 1926.302(e), and 29 CFR 1926.1060]
  2. Train workers to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions. [29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2), 29 CFR 1926.65, 29 CFR 1926.454, and 29 CFR 1926.901(c)]
  3. Provide training on safe work practices and applicable standards. [29 CFR 1926.21(b)]
  4. Provide training on safe operation of equipment and machinery. [29 CFR 1926.20(b)(4) and 29 CFR 1926.302(e)]
  5. Provide training on hazards of access ladders and stairways. [29 CFR 1926.1060(a), 29 CFR 1926.454, 29 CFR 1926.800(b), and 29 CFR 1926.800(c)]
  6. Provide training on confined and enclosed space entry hazards and precautions. [29 CFR 1926.21(b)(6), 29 CFR 1926.353(b), and 29 CFR 1926.801]
H. Recordkeeping and Abatement Verification
  1. Record injuries and fatalities. [29 CFR 1904.5 and 29 CFR 1904.8]
  2. Maintain medical records. [29 CFR 1926.33]
  3. Maintain exposure records. [29 CFR 1926.33]
  4. Maintain appropriate documents and tags for abatement verification. [29 CFR 1903.19]