How to Develop a Construction Safety Plan

Hard hat

A construction safety plan is a document that outlines the safety precautions that will be taken during a specific project. While many companies have a generic plan on the books, they will update and expand this plan to meet the requirements of each individual project. The construction safety plan is important for several reasons. First, it helps protect workers and the public from injury or harm. Second, it is often required by owners or developers to help limit their liability while the job is taking place. Finally, most insurance companies require a safety plan be put in place for each insured project. Those that don't have this requirement often offer discounts for companies that implement a plan.

Instructions

1. Start with general safety items required by the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA). OSHA is responsible for issuing guidelines and standards to protect workers in all fields. The OSHA Standard No. 1926, which can be found on the organization's website for free, outlines construction specific safety items. These include fall protection, the use of hard hats and safety glasses, fire prevention, and how to safely store hazardous materials. Use these items to help you create a list of basic safety requirements.

2. Include project specific items. Meet with the owners or developers to determine which safety items are critical on their end. If you are working on a project in a hospital, for example, the owners may have safety rules related to power outages by the electricians, or keeping patients and visitors from getting hurt during the building process. Address these concerns with the owners and make sure that safety measures are included in the process.

3. Visit the project site to determine additional safety hazards. Construction sites located near roads, on hilly terrain or on unstable soils may present specific hazards to workers in the form of falls, traffic or possible cave-ins. Look for these items before work begins, and outline how you will address them when creating your safety plan.

4. Check with your insurance company. Construction insurance is very expensive, so anything that can reduce your rates is worth looking into. Many insurance companies offer discounts for specific safety rules, such as requiring all job-site visitors to wear reflective vests and safety glasses, or investing in a state of the art fall protection system.

5. Work with your subcontractors. They will be the ones actually performing the work, so you'll need their input. Check to see if individual contractors have rules set in place relative to their work. This may include the electricians marking dangerous equipment in a certain way, or the crane operators requiring a certain buffer zone that no one is allowed in. By including these requirements, you are letting everyone on the job know about them, and helping to create a safe working environment.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• OSHA Standard 1926