OSHA is in the House!

I attended a 2-hour seminar held on April 27, 2010 held by the GFWBA to get the scoop on OSHA’s visit in town.

OSHA has visited City Halls in our jurisdiction and is getting information for permits pulled in the last 6 months! Both builders and contractors are subject to scrutiny on code compliance. Unfortunately, there have been various builders and framers that have been cited for code violations.

According to the presenter, a framer was cited with $7,000 per violation… 3 of his workers were not wearing fall protection ($7,000 X 3 = $21,000, which spells ouch).

OSHA’s focus is job site safety and reduction of workplace hazards.

Violations being searched for are:

• Electrical
• Lack of appropriate PPE’s (personal protection equipment)
• Scaffolding
• Stairways/Ladders
• Safety program in place

What should you do right now?

• Inspect your jobs ites
• Get everyone on site to wear hard hats
• Use appropriate scaffolding – not those 2×4’s or 2×6’s or saw horses that framers sometimes use!
• Make sure all electrical cords to be in good condition
• Use appropriate paint storage
• Have a fire extinguisher on site
• Have a first-aid kit on site
• Educate your people to know the standards of safety
• Have trained operators for special equipment such as cranes
• Keep your job sites clean and free of debris

In short, use of common sense strategies to make your job site a safe environment for your workers.

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