Our construction management software can help you comply with OSHA regulations.
In our previous blog, we talked about how construction technology can improve safety at your job sites,
and we also mentioned that it assists with auditing practices and helps you stay in compliance with regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates job sites across the United States for safety and compliance, and if you get a citation from OSHA, you will have to correct the issue by the specific date that they set and, in some cases, you will also have to pay a penalty. At SITECH Rocky Mountain, we proudly provide Trimble construction management software that can help you stay in compliance with OSHA regulations. Here are some of the most frequently cited construction violations by OSHA, as well as what you can do to prevent them:
#1. Fall Protection
Fall protection is the most commonly cited OSHA violation in the construction industry, and falls are also one of the most common causes of death in the industry. As an employer, it is your job to make sure that you have reliable fall protection systems in place. Fall protection systems can include safety net systems, guardrails and personal fall arrest systems, and they must be put in place on any surface where people work or walk that has unprotected sides or edges that are six feet or over the lower level. Fall protection also involves protecting workers from falling objects by requiring hard hats and protecting workers from falling into open areas, such as skylights and elevator shafts, by barricading them or adding toeboards.
#2. Scaffolds
Around 65 percent of construction workers work on and around scaffolds. Employees who work in environments with scaffolding are exposed to many different hazards, which can include electrocutions, falls and falling objects. As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring that the scaffolding has been designed and erected, as well as disassembled, by someone who is competent. It’s also important that all scaffolding has the appropriate mid rails, toeboards and guardrails to protect the employees working on it. Employees who work around scaffolding should also be required to wear hard hats to protect them from falling objects.
#3. Ladders
Did you know that improper ladder use is one of the most common causes of falls that result in injury or death? Ladder falls are often caused by improperly secured ladders, incorrect ladder choice or carrying materials and tools while attempting to climb. As an employer, you are responsible for checking all ladders before they are used every day. Any ladders that are defective should be tagged out, or marked, and removed from service until they are repaired and conform to OSHA standards. It’s also essential to train all of your employees on proper ladder safety. Additionally, if workers will be utilizing energized electrical equipment, nonconductive side railing are required on all ladders.
#4. Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment
All workers must be provided with adequate face and eye protection when they are working around hazards, including flying particles, liquid chemicals, acids, molten metal, caustic liquids, chemical vapor, chemical gasses or injurious light radiation. These hazards are associated with many tasks on the job site, including grinding, chipping, welding, sanding, masonry, drilling and woodworking. Employers are required to ensure that all protective equipment meets OSHA’s standards. Eye and face protection should be inspected regularly to ensure that it is free of chips, cracks and other damage, and protective equipment that does become damaged should be replaced immediately. If workers wear prescription lenses, you are also required to provide them with protection that incorporates their prescriptions or that can be worn over their existing lenses comfortably.
#5. Toxic and Hazardous Substances
This standard applies to job sites where hazardous materials are found, such as silica, lead, wood that is cut and generates dust, asbestos and treated wood. It also applies to sites that use building materials containing hazardous chemicals, like zinc, beryllium, cadmium and mercury. As an employer, you are responsible for implementing a communication program that includes an inventory of all of the hazardous chemicals and substances on the job site. Additionally, you should ensure that all hazardous substances are properly labeled and have hazard warnings and that all employees are properly trained on how to handle the substances, as well as the risks surrounding them.
#6. General Safety and Health Provisions
This standard is designed to protect workers from being required to work in conditions that are “..unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to his health or safety.” As an employer, you are responsible for implementing safety programs that prevent accidents and protect workers. This includes having a competent person inspect all materials and equipment on the job site to ensure that anything that isn’t in compliance is properly locked, or tagged, out and removed from the site. Employers are also responsible for training all employees on any and all safety hazards related to their job duties.
Staying in compliance with all OSHA standards is incredibly important, not just to help you avoid costly penalties, but also to help you keep all workers safe on the job site. Luckily, SITECH Rocky Mountain can help. We are proud to provide Trimble construction management software all over Colorado, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas that can help you enhance safety on the job site and stay in compliance with all OSHA regulations. Please contact us today, and one of our experts will help you determine which software program is the right option for you!
