Safety & Health Regulations for Construction

The OSHA construction code requires workers to wear hard hats.

The Safety and Health Regulations for Construction are published by the United States Department of Labor and administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA. These rules apply to every field in the construction industry.

Function

The Safety and Health Regulations for Construction is the industry guide that provides health and safety rules for all construction contractors and trades. Under the act, OSHA provides rules of operation, inspections and penalties for noncompliance with the code, which can include shutting down the project until an inspector verifies job site compliance.

Responsibility

Section 1926.16(a) of the code states that every contractor and subcontractor must comply with the safety and health codes. However, the subcontractor may agree with the main contractor on a job to have him provide the provisions for compliance. The managing contractor, however, may never give up his ultimate responsibility to provide a safe and healthy working environment.

Features

The Safety and Health Regulations for Construction have a very broad scope. Included in the code are provisions for general health and safety, safety training, cleanliness, sanitation, equipment maintenance, control of environmental hazards, first aid and lifesaving measures on the job. The code applies to all construction trades, including carpentry, concrete, electrical, excavation and plumbing contractors.

References

• Occupational Health and Safety Administration: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction
• Occupational Health and Safety Administration: Rules of Construction--1926.16