Osha Construction Safety Guides
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal organization dedicated to protecting workers' safety rights. OSHA develops guidelines and standards to which the majority of companies are required by law to adhere. Because of the inherent risks involved in the construction industry, OSHA standards for construction safety are fairly complex and cover a wide variety of topics.
History
On December 29, 1970, Congress passed the OSH Act of 1970, which was aimed at protecting the health and safety of American workers. This act established OSHA as a separate division of the U.S. Department of Labor and gave it the power to develop and enforce workplace safety guidelines. The act has been amended many times since it inception, most recently by the OSH Act of 2004.
Types
There are several different types of OSHA construction safety guidelines. The most widely used is the federal version, which is covered under OSHA Standard 1926. By law, all employers must adhere to this standard unless they are covered by an approved state program. States have the power to create their own OSHA safety guides, but state programs must be at least as stringent as the federal system. As of September 2009, 22 states have put their own OSHA programs in place.
Function
The function of OSHA standards is to minimize injuries and deaths in the workplace. OSHA construction standards are constantly being updated to reflect new hazards or technologies. OSHA also requires employers to educate their employees regarding their safety rights on the job. As part of this requirement, OSHA operates a number of training systems designed to explain how to use the organization's safety guides.
Considerations
Besides protecting the lives of workers, compliance with OSHA standards offers a number of other benefits. Companies with lower accident rates tend to have lower insurance premiums. They also lose less time and productivity due to injuries. Companies found not to be in compliance with OSHA safety rules are subject to substantial fines, along with criminal and civil penalties. OSHA is legally permitted to inspect any construction site at anytime without cause to look for infractions.
Construction Safety Standards
Many different areas of construction safety are addressed under OSHA Standard 1926. These include informing workers of their rights, training them to perform their jobs safely and issuing proper protective gear to minimize injuries. This standard also dictates the means by which chemicals and toxic substances should be stored and handled, as well as the permitted level of exposure. Underground safety and trenches are also addressed, as well as fall protection and the mitigation of fire risks.
History
On December 29, 1970, Congress passed the OSH Act of 1970, which was aimed at protecting the health and safety of American workers. This act established OSHA as a separate division of the U.S. Department of Labor and gave it the power to develop and enforce workplace safety guidelines. The act has been amended many times since it inception, most recently by the OSH Act of 2004.
Types
There are several different types of OSHA construction safety guidelines. The most widely used is the federal version, which is covered under OSHA Standard 1926. By law, all employers must adhere to this standard unless they are covered by an approved state program. States have the power to create their own OSHA safety guides, but state programs must be at least as stringent as the federal system. As of September 2009, 22 states have put their own OSHA programs in place.
Function
The function of OSHA standards is to minimize injuries and deaths in the workplace. OSHA construction standards are constantly being updated to reflect new hazards or technologies. OSHA also requires employers to educate their employees regarding their safety rights on the job. As part of this requirement, OSHA operates a number of training systems designed to explain how to use the organization's safety guides.
Considerations
Besides protecting the lives of workers, compliance with OSHA standards offers a number of other benefits. Companies with lower accident rates tend to have lower insurance premiums. They also lose less time and productivity due to injuries. Companies found not to be in compliance with OSHA safety rules are subject to substantial fines, along with criminal and civil penalties. OSHA is legally permitted to inspect any construction site at anytime without cause to look for infractions.
Construction Safety Standards
Many different areas of construction safety are addressed under OSHA Standard 1926. These include informing workers of their rights, training them to perform their jobs safely and issuing proper protective gear to minimize injuries. This standard also dictates the means by which chemicals and toxic substances should be stored and handled, as well as the permitted level of exposure. Underground safety and trenches are also addressed, as well as fall protection and the mitigation of fire risks.
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