When you are planning to build an industrial facility, there are many processes that need to be completed thoroughly and correctly. Construction is a process that requires precision, attention to detail, and careful planning. Many contractors underestimate the time needed for planning or don’t have a plan at all. It is essential that each step in the construction process be considered carefully with the intention of creating a safe environment for workers and passersby. Construction site safety training is necessary for any company or individual looking to build a new facility. You can read this article to know more about it.
Why Is Construction Site Safety Training Important?
Construction site accidents and injuries occur frequently. In fact, OSHA reported that in 2016, the construction industry had the second highest rate of fatalities per 100,000 workers and the second highest rate of serious injuries per 100,000 workers. If you want to be sure all members of your team are safe and protected while they work on your project, you need to provide state-required site safety training to all workers.
Note that even if you are the only person working on a particular project, you are still responsible for your own safety. This means you need to understand your rights and responsibilities under OSHA and take the necessary steps to protect yourself. Also, you need to make sure that all areas of your construction project are safe and do not pose any hazards to workers. In other words, you need to follow OSHA’s safety regulations.
Why Is Construction Site Safety Training Necessary?
Construction site safety training is necessary for many reasons. First and foremost, it is necessary because it is a requirement of OSHA. In other words, if you want to start construction on your new facility, you and your workers must complete construction site safety training. OSHA regulations are the laws that are in place to keep workers safe from hazards and hazards safe from workers. You must understand and follow them to the letter if you want to keep your project on schedule and budget and protect your workers from hazards. In addition to being a requirement, construction site safety training offers many benefits for your team members.
OSHA Regulations And How They Impact Your Site
OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This organization is responsible for enforcing federal regulations pertaining to construction site safety training and workers’ rights. There are several regulations that your site must follow and they are listed below:
– General duty clause
– Respiratory protection
– Hearing protection
– Personal protective equipment
– Bloodborne pathogens
– Hand hygiene
– Hazard communication
– Scaffolding
– Cranes and derricks
– Walking/working surfaces
– Roofing
– Stress and strain on the body
– Electrical hazards
– Trenching and excavation
– Welding and cutting
– Warning signs
– Fall protection
Ideally, you want to ensure that your site complies with the regulations listed above. General duty clause – This clause states that every employer has a responsibility to keep their workers safe.
Respiratory protection – You must provide respiratory protection to workers who are around contaminants or hazards.
Hearing protection – You must make sure that workers who use power tools or heavy equipment wear hearing protection. However, you must provide it to workers who are exposed to noise levels above 90 decibels.
Personal protective equipment – You must provide personal protective equipment to workers who are exposed to hazards.
Bloodborne pathogens – You must follow strict policies and procedures to reduce the risk of bloodborne pathogens.
Hand hygiene – You must make sure all workers wash their hands as often as necessary.
Hazard communication – You must inform workers about any potential hazards they may be exposed to.
Scaffolding – You must follow strict policies and procedures for scaffolding.
Cranes and derricks – You must follow strict policies and procedures for cranes and derricks.
Walking/working surfaces – You must follow strict policies and procedures for walking and working surfaces.
Roofing – You must follow strict policies and procedures for roofing.
Stress and strain on the body – You must follow strict policies and procedures for the stress and strain on the body.
Electrical hazards – You must follow strict policies and procedures for electrical hazards.
Trenching and excavation – You must follow strict policies and procedures for trenching and excavation.
Welding and cutting – You must follow strict policies and procedures for welding and cutting.
Warning signs – You must use warning signs to let workers know about potential hazards.
Fall protection – You must follow strict policies and procedures for fall protection.
Who Must Be Trained?
You must make sure that all workers who are going to work on the construction site complete construction site safety training. This includes workers who are subcontractors and those who are employed by your company. You must ask your workers to bring their certification card to the job site. This way, you know they have completed the course and that they are compliant with OSHA regulations. Be sure to check the expiration date on their card and plan to offer refresher courses when necessary. If your workers are not compliant, you must either provide them with construction site safety training or hire workers who have completed their courses. OSHA does not require you to provide construction site safety training for property owners or project managers.
Who Can Be Trained?
You can provide construction site safety training for workers of all experience levels. You can also offer it to all workers regardless of their occupation. For example, you can offer construction site safety training to administrative assistants, team leads, supervisors, and more. It is important to note that some construction site safety training providers are stricter than others. You must make sure that you select a provider whose course is right for your team and meets the OSHA requirements.
How to Comply With OSHA Regulations
If you want your project to remain compliant with OSHA regulations, you must follow these three steps:
– Identify hazards – Make sure you understand the hazards and risks associated with your project.
– Develop a plan to control hazards – Once you know what hazards you are dealing with, you must develop a plan to control them.
– Train workers on hazards and hazards control plans – You must train workers on the hazards and how to control them.
Conclusion
Construction site safety training is an essential part of any construction project. By providing mandatory construction site safety training to all workers, you can reduce injuries and accidents and protect your team members from hazards. OSHA regulations are in place to keep workers safe from hazards and hazards safe from workers. You must understand and follow these regulations to a tee if you want to remain compliant and protect your workers from hazards.
