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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
- Provide employees with sanitary and safe working conditions. [29 CFR 1926.20(a)]
- Assign injury and illness prevention responsibilities. [29 CFR 1926.20(b)]
- Give injury and illness prevention designees authority to correct hazards. [29 CFR 1926.32(f)]
- Ensure employees that they may voice injury and illness prevention concerns without fear of reprisal. [29 CFR 1903.11(d)]
- 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]
- Coordinate hazard communication with other employers on site. [29 CFR 1926.59, 29 CFR 1926.65, and 29 CFR 1926.652]
- Post the OSHA State or Federal Poster. [29 CFR 1903.2(a)]
C. Hazard Identification and Determination
- Evaluate operations, procedures, facilities, and equipment to identify hazards. [29 CFR 1926.20(a) and 29 CFR 1926.21(b)]
- Monitor exposure levels. [29 CFR 1926.55, 29 CFR 1926.62, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Z, and 29 CFR 1926.1101]
- Ensure regular injury and illness prevention inspections. [29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2), 29 CFR 1926.703(b), and 29 CFR 1926.1081(g)]
- Conduct accident investigations. [29 CFR 1904.4]
- 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
- 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]
- Institute engineering and work practice controls to eliminate health hazards. [29 CFR 1926.55, 29 CFR 1926.103, and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Z]
- 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)]
- Provide appropriate personal protective equipment when other controls are infeasible. [29 CFR 1926.28(a) and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart E]
- Guarantee safe means of egress. [29 CFR 1926.34]
E. Emergency Response Planning
- Develop emergency response plans. [29 CFR 1926.35 and 29 CFR 1926.65(q)]
- 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
- 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]
- 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)]
- Post emergency numbers for physicians, hospitals, or ambulances. [29 CFR 1926.50(f)]
G. Training
- 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]
- 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)]
- Provide training on safe work practices and applicable standards. [29 CFR 1926.21(b)]
- Provide training on safe operation of equipment and machinery. [29 CFR 1926.20(b)(4) and 29 CFR 1926.302(e)]
- 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)]
- 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
- Record injuries and fatalities. [29 CFR 1904.5 and 29 CFR 1904.8]
- Maintain medical records. [29 CFR 1926.33]
- Maintain exposure records. [29 CFR 1926.33]
- Maintain appropriate documents and tags for abatement verification. [29 CFR 1903.19]