OSHA 3252-05N 2005
WORKER SAFETY SERIES

Construction

Nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites across the nation

on any given day. The fatal injury rate for the

construction industry is higher than the national

average in this category for all industries.

Potential hazards for workers in construction

include:

• Falls (from heights);

• Trench collapse;

• Scaffold collapse;

• Electric shock and arc flash/arc blast;

• Failure to use proper personal protective 

equipment; and

• Repetitive motion injuries.

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov
CONSTRUCTION 11

Hazards & Solutions

For construction, the 10 OSHA standards most frequently included in the

agency’s citations in FY 2004 were: 

1. Scaffolding

2. Fall protection (scope, application,

definitions)

3. Excavations (general requirements)

4. Ladders

5. Head protection

6. Excavations (requirements for 

protective systems)

7. Hazard communication

8. Fall protection (training requirements)

9. Construction (general safety and

health provisions)

10.Electrical (wiring methods, design

and protection)

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Scaffolding

Hazard: When scaffolds are not erected or

used properly, fall hazards can occur. About

2.3 million construction workers frequently

work on scaffolds. Protecting these workers

from scaffold-related accidents would prevent

an estimated 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities

each year.

Solutions:

• Scaffold must be sound, rigid and sufficient

to carry its own weight plus four times the

maximum intended load without settling or

displacement. It must be erected on solid

footing. 

• Unstable objects, such as barrels, boxes,

loose bricks or concrete blocks must not be

used to support scaffolds or planks.

• Scaffold must not be erected, moved, dismantled or altered except under the supervision of a competent person.

• Scaffold must be equipped with guardrails,

midrails and toeboards.

• Scaffold accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs or ladders that are

damaged or weakened from any cause

must be immediately repaired or replaced.

• Scaffold platforms must be tightly planked

with scaffold plank grade material or equivalent. 

• A “competent person” must inspect the

scaffolding and, at designated intervals,

reinspect it. 

• Rigging on suspension scaffolds must be

inspected by a competent person before

each shift and after any occurrence that

could affect structural integrity to ensure

that all connections are tight and that no

2 WORKER SAFETY SERIES

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
damage to the rigging has occurred since

its last use.

• Synthetic and natural rope used in suspension scaffolding must be protected from

heat-producing sources.

• Employees must be instructed about the

hazards of using diagonal braces as fall 

protection.

• Scaffold can be accessed by using ladders

and stairwells.

• Scaffolds must be at least 10 feet from 

electric power lines at all times.

CONSTRUCTION 3

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Fall Protection

Hazard: Each year, falls consistently account

for the greatest number of fatalities in the

construction industry. A number of factors are

often involved in falls, including unstable

working surfaces, misuse or failure to use fall

protection equipment and human error.

Studies have shown that using guardrails, fall

arrest systems, safety nets, covers and

restraint systems can prevent many deaths

and injuries from falls.

Solutions:

• Consider using aerial lifts or elevated platforms to provide safer elevated working

surfaces; 

• Erect guardrail systems with toeboards and

warning lines or install control line systems

to protect workers near the edges of floors

and roofs; 

• Cover floor holes; and/or

• Use safety net systems or personal fall

arrest systems (body harnesses).

4 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Ladders

Hazard: Ladders and stairways are another

source of injuries and fatalities among construction workers. OSHA estimates that there

are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls on stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these

injuries were serious enough to require time

off the job.

Solutions:

• Use the correct ladder for the task.

• Have a competent person visually inspect a

ladder before use for any defects such as:

■ Structural damage, split/bent side rails,

broken or missing rungs/steps/cleats and

missing or damaged safety devices;

■ Grease, dirt or other contaminants that

could cause slips or falls;

■ Paint or stickers (except warning labels)

that could hide possible defects.

• Make sure that ladders are long enough to

safely reach the work area.

• Mark or tag (“Do Not Use”) damaged or

defective ladders for repair or replacement,

or destroy them immediately.

• Never load ladders beyond the maximum

intended load or beyond the manufacturer’s

rated capacity.

• Be sure the load rating can support the

weight of the user, including materials and

tools.

• Avoid using ladders with metallic components near electrical work and overhead

power lines.

CONSTRUCTION 5
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Stairways

Hazard: Slips, trips and falls on stairways are

a major source of injuries and fatalities

among construction workers.

Solutions:

• Stairway treads and walkways must be free

of dangerous objects, debris and materials. 

• Slippery conditions on stairways and walkways must be corrected immediately.

• Make sure that treads cover the entire step

and landing.

• Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches must have at least

one handrail.

6 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
SLOPING. Maximum allowable slopes for excavations

less than 20 ft. (6.09 m) based on soil type and angle

to the horizontal are as follows:

TABLE V:2-1. ALLOWABLE SLOPES

Source: OSHA Technical Manual, Section V, Chap. 2, Excavations:

Hazard Recognition in Trenching and Shoring (Jan. 1999).

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Trenching

Hazard: Trench collapses cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year.

Trenching deaths rose in 2003.

Solutions: 

• Never enter an unprotected trench.

• Always use a protective system for trenches 5

feet deep or greater. 

• Employ a registered professional engineer to

design a protective system for trenches 20

feet deep or greater. 

• Protective Systems:

■ Sloping to protect workers by cutting back

the trench wall at an angle inclined away

from the excavation not steeper than a

height/depth ratio of 11

2 :1, according to the

sloping requirements for the type of soil.

CONSTRUCTION 7

Soil type Height/Depth ratio Slope angle

Stable Rock Vertical 90o

(granite or sandstone)

Type A 3

4 :1 53o

(clay)

Type B 1:1 45o

(gravel, silt)

Type C 11

2 :1 34o

(sand)

Type A (short-term) 1

2 :1 63o

(For a maximum excavation depth of 12 ft.)
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

■ Shoring to protect workers by installing

supports to prevent soil movement for

trenches that do not exceed 20 feet in

depth.

■ Shielding to protect workers by using

trench boxes or other types of supports

to prevent soil cave-ins.

• Always provide a way to exit a trench--such

as a ladder, stairway or ramp--no more than

25 feet of lateral travel for employees in the

trench.

• Keep spoils at least two feet back from the

edge of a trench.

• Make sure that trenches are inspected by a

competent person prior to entry and after

any hazard-increasing event such as a rainstorm, vibrations or excessive surcharge

loads.

8 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Cranes

Hazard: Significant and serious injuries may

occur if cranes are not inspected before use

and if they are not used properly. Often these

injuries occur when a worker is struck by an

overhead load or caught within the crane’s

swing radius. Many crane fatalities occur

when the boom of a crane or its load line

contact an overhead power line.

Solutions:

• Check all crane controls to insure proper

operation before use.

• Inspect wire rope, chains and hook for any

damage. 

• Know the weight of the load that the crane

is to lift.

• Ensure that the load does not exceed the

crane’s rated capacity.

• Raise the load a few inches to verify balance

and the effectiveness of the brake system.

• Check all rigging prior to use; do not wrap

hoist ropes or chains around the load. 

• Fully extend outriggers.

• Do not move a load over workers.

• Barricade accessible areas within the

crane’s swing radius.

• Watch for overhead electrical distribution

and transmission lines and maintain a safe

working clearance of at least 10 feet from

energized electrical lines.

CONSTRUCTION 9
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Hazard Communication

Hazard: Failure to recognize the hazards

associated with chemicals can cause chemical

burns, respiratory problems, fires and explosions.

Solutions:

• Maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet

(MSDS) for each chemical in the facility.

• Make this information accessible to employees at all times in a language or formats

that are clearly understood by all affected

personnel.

• Train employees on how to read and use

the MSDS.

• Follow manufacturer’s MSDS instructions

for handling hazardous chemicals. 

• Train employees about the risks of each

hazardous chemical being used.

• Provide spill clean-up kits in areas where

chemicals are stored.

• Have a written spill control plan.

• Train employees to clean up spills, protect

themselves and properly dispose of used

materials.

• Provide proper personal protective equipment and enforce its use.

• Store chemicals safely and securely.

10 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

CONSTRUCTION 11

Forklifts

Hazard: Approximately 100 employees are

fatally injured and approximately 95,000

employees are injured every year while operating powered industrial trucks. Forklift turnover accounts for a significant number of

these fatalities.

Solutions: 

• Train and certify all operators to ensure that

they operate forklifts safely.

• Do not allow any employee under 18 years

old to operate a forklift.

• Properly maintain haulage equipment,

including tires.

• Do not modify or make attachments that

affect the capacity and safe operation of the

forklift without written approval from the

forklift’s manufacturer.

• Examine forklift truck for defects before

using.

• Follow safe operating procedures for picking up, moving, putting down and stacking

loads.
• Drive safely--never exceed 5 mph and slow

down in congested or slippery surface

areas.

• Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay.

• Do not handle loads that are heavier than

the capacity of the industrial truck.

• Remove unsafe or defective forklift trucks

from service. 

• Operators shall always wear seatbelts.

• Avoid traveling with elevated loads.

• Assure that rollover protective structure is

in place.

• Make certain that the reverse signal alarm 

is operational and audible above the surrounding noise level.

Head Protection

Hazard: Serious head injuries can result from

blows to the head.

Solution: 

• Be sure that workers wear hard hats where

there is a potential for objects falling from

above, bumps to their heads from fixed

objects, or accidental head contact with

electrical hazards.

12 WORKER SAFETY SERIES

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Safety Checklists

The following checklists may help

you take steps to avoid hazards that

cause injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

As always, be cautious and seek help

if you are concerned about a potential hazard.

Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE)

Eye and Face Protection

❏Safety glasses or face shields are worn

anytime work operations can cause foreign objects getting into the eye such as

during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing

(or when working with concrete and/or

harmful chemicals or when exposed to

flying particles).

❏Eye and face protectors are selected

based on anticipated hazards.

❏Safety glasses or face shields are worn

when exposed to any electrical hazards

including work on energized electrical

systems.

Foot Protection

❏Construction workers should wear work

shoes or boots with slip-resistant and

puncture-resistant soles.

❏Safety-toed footwear is worn to prevent

crushed toes when working around

heavy equipment or falling objects.

Hand Protection

❏ Gloves should fit snugly. 

CONSTRUCTION 13

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

❏ Workers wear the right gloves for the job

(for example, heavy-duty rubber gloves

for concrete work, welding gloves for

welding, insulated gloves and sleeves

when exposed to electrical hazards).

Head Protection 

❏ Workers shall wear hard hats where there

is a potential for objects falling from

above, bumps to their heads from fixed

objects, or of accidental head contact

with electrical hazards.

❏Hard hats are routinely inspected for

dents, cracks or deterioration.

❏Hard hats are replaced after a heavy blow

or electrical shock.

❏Hard hats are maintained in good condition.

Scaffolding

❏Scaffolds should be set on sound footing.

❏Damaged parts that affect the strength of

the scaffold are taken out of service.

❏Scaffolds are not altered.

❏All scaffolds should be fully planked.

❏Scaffolds are not moved horizontally

while workers are on them unless they

are designed to be mobile and workers

have been trained in the proper procedures.

❏Employees are not permitted to work on

scaffolds when covered with snow, ice, or

other slippery materials.

❏Scaffolds are not erected or moved within

10 feet of power lines. 

❏Employees are not permitted to work on

scaffolds in bad weather or high winds

14 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

unless a competent person has determined that it is safe to do so. 

❏Ladders, boxes, barrels, buckets or other

makeshift platforms are not used to raise

work height. 

❏Extra material is not allowed to build up

on scaffold platforms. 

❏Scaffolds should not be loaded with

more weight than they were designed to

support.

Electrical Safety

❏ Work on new and existing energized

(hot) electrical circuits is prohibited until

all power is shut off and grounds are

attached. 

❏An effective Lockout/Tagout system is in

place. 

❏Frayed, damaged or worn electrical cords

or cables are promptly replaced.

❏All extension cords have grounding

prongs.

❏Protect flexible cords and cables from

damage. Sharp corners and projections

should be avoided.

❏ Use extension cord sets used with

portable electric tools and appliances

that are the three-wire type and designed

for hard or extra-hard service. (Look for

some of the following letters imprinted

on the casing: S, ST, SO, STO.) 

❏All electrical tools and equipment are

maintained in safe condition and checked

regularly for defects and taken out of

service if a defect is found.

❏Do not bypass any protective system or

device designed to protect employees

from contact with electrical energy.

CONSTRUCTION 15
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

❏ Overhead electrical power lines are located and identified. 

❏Ensure that ladders, scaffolds, equipment

or materials never come within 10 feet of

electrical power lines.

❏All electrical tools must be properly

grounded unless they are of the double

insulated type.

❏ Multiple plug adapters are prohibited.

Floor and Wall Openings

❏Floor openings (12 inches or more) are

guarded by a secured cover, a guardrail

or equivalent on all sides (except at

entrances to stairways).

❏Toeboards are installed around the edges

of permanent floor openings (where persons may pass below the opening).

Elevated Surfaces

❏Signs are posted, when appropriate,

showing the elevated surface load

capacity.

❏Surfaces elevated more than 48 inches

above the floor or ground have standard

guardrails.

❏All elevated surfaces (beneath which people or machinery could be exposed to

falling objects) have standard 4-inch toeboards.

❏A permanent means of entry and exit

with handrails is provided to elevated

storage and work surfaces.

❏ Material is piled, stacked or racked in a

way that prevents it from tipping, falling,

collapsing, rolling or spreading.

16 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Hazard Communication

❏A list of hazardous substances used in

the workplace is maintained and readily

available at the worksite.

❏There is a written hazard communication

program addressing Material Safety Data

Sheets (MSDS), labeling and employee

training.

❏Each container of a hazardous substance

(vats, bottles, storage tanks) is labeled

with product identity and a hazard warning(s) (communicating the specific health

hazards and physical hazards).

❏ Material Safety Data Sheets are readily

available at all times for each hazardous

substance used.

❏There is an effective employee training

program for hazardous substances.

Crane Safety

❏Cranes and derricks are restricted from

operating within 10 feet of any electrical

power line.

❏The upper rotating structure supporting

the boom and materials being handled is

provided with an electrical ground while

working near energized transmitter towers.

❏Rated load capacities, operating speed

and instructions are posted and visible to

the operator.

❏Cranes are equipped with a load chart.

❏The operator understands and uses the

load chart.

❏The operator can determine the angle

and length of the crane boom at all times.

CONSTRUCTION 17
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

❏Crane machinery and other rigging

equipment is inspected daily prior to use

to make sure that it is in good condition.

❏Accessible areas within the crane’s swing

radius are barricaded.

❏Tag lines are used to prevent dangerous

swing or spin of materials when raised or

lowered by a crane or derrick.

❏Illustrations of hand signals to crane and

derrick operators are posted on the job

site.

❏The signal person uses correct signals for

the crane operator to follow.

❏Crane outriggers are extended when

required.

❏Crane platforms and walkways have antiskid surfaces.

❏Broken, worn or damaged wire rope is

removed from service.

❏ Guardrails, hand holds and steps are provided for safe and easy access to and

from all areas of the crane.

❏Load testing reports/certifications are

available.

❏Tower crane mast bolts are properly

torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications.

❏ Overload limits are tested and correctly

set.

❏The maximum acceptable load and the

last test results are posted on the crane.

❏Initial and annual inspections of all hoisting and rigging equipment are performed

and reports are maintained.

❏ Only properly trained and qualified operators are allowed to work with hoisting

and rigging equipment.

18 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

CONSTRUCTION 19

Forklifts

❏Forklift truck operators are competent to

operate these vehicles safely as demonstrated by their successful completion of

training and evaluation.

❏ No employee under 18 years old is

allowed to operate a forklift.

❏Forklifts are inspected daily for proper

condition of brakes, horns, steering,

forks and tires.

❏Powered industrial trucks (forklifts) meet

the design and construction requirements

established in American National

Standards Institute (ANSI) for Powered

Industrial Trucks, Part II ANSI B56.1-1969.

❏ Written approval from the truck manufacturer is obtained for any modification or

additions which affect capacity and safe

operation of the vehicle.

❏Capacity, operation and maintenance

instruction plates, tags or decals are

changed to indicate any modifications or

additions to the vehicle.

❏Battery charging is conducted in areas

specifically designated for that purpose.

❏ Material handling equipment is provided

for handling batteries, including conveyors, overhead hoists or equivalent

devices.

❏Reinstalled batteries are properly positioned and secured in the truck.

❏Smoking is prohibited in battery charging

areas.

❏Precautions are taken to prevent open

flames, sparks or electric arcs in battery

charging areas.

❏Refresher training is provided and an

evaluation is conducted whenever a fork-
lift operator has been observed operating

the vehicle in an unsafe manner and

when an operator is assigned to drive a

different type of truck.

❏Load and forks are fully lowered, controls

neutralized, power shut off and brakes set

when a powered industrial truck is left

unattended.

❏There is sufficient headroom for the forklift and operator under overhead installations, lights, pipes, sprinkler systems, etc.

❏ Overhead guards are in place to protect

the operator against falling objects.

❏Trucks are operated at a safe speed. 

❏All loads are kept stable, safely arranged

and fit within the rated capacity of the

truck.

❏ Unsafe and defective trucks are removed

from service.

20 WORKER SAFETY SERIES

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Construction Safety &

Health Resources

Most resource materials can be found

on the OSHA website: www.osha.gov

Publications

Publications can be downloaded or ordered at:

http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/pubindex.list

A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction

Industry

OSHA Publication 3150 (Revised 2002), 2.1 MB

PDF, 73 pages.

Booklet in question-and-answer format highlights information about scaffold safety.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3150.pdf

Concrete and Masonry Construction

OSHA Publication 3106 (Revised 1998), 414 KB

PDF, 32 pages.

Details information on OSHA’s Concrete and

Masonry standard.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3106.pdf

Crystalline Silica Exposure Card for Construction

OSHA Publication 3177 (Revised 2002), 2 pages. 

Discusses silica hazards, and what employers

and employees can do to protect against exposures to silica.

A Spanish version is also available. OSHA

Publication 3179 (Revised 2003), 2 pages.

Excavations

OSHA Publication 2226 (Revised 2002), 533 KB

PDF, 44 pages. 

A detailed explanation of all aspects of excavation and trenching.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha2226.pdf

Fall Protection in Construction

OSHA Publication 3146 (Revised 1998), 177 KB

PDF, 43 pages.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3146.pdf

CONSTRUCTION 21

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Ground-Fault Protection on Construction Sites

OSHA Publication 3007 (Revised 1998), 100 KB

PDF, 31 pages. 

Booklet on ground-fault circuit interrupters for

safe use of portable tools.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3007.pdf

Lead in Construction 

OSHA Publication 3142 (Revised 2003), 610 KB

PDF, 38 pages. 

Describes hazards and safe work practices concerning lead.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3142.pdf

OSHA Assistance for the Residential

Construction Industry

Many OSHA standards apply to residential construction for the prevention of possible fatalities.

This web page provides information about

those standards and the hazards present in residential construction. It was developed in cooperation with the National Association of Home

Builders (NAHB) as part of the OSHA-NAHB

Alliance.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/residential/index.html

Selected Construction Regulations (SCOR) for

the Home Building Industry (29 CFR 1926)

OSHA Publication (Revised 1997), 1.2 MB PDF,

224 pages.

Provides information on safe and healthful work

practices for residential construction employers;

identifies OSHA standards applicable to hazards

found at worksites in the residential construction industry.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/scor1926.pdf

Stairways and Ladders 

OSHA Publication 3124 (Revised 2003), 155 KB

PDF, 15 pages.

Explains OSHA requirements for stairways and

ladders.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3124.pdf

22 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Working Safely in Trenches

OSHA Publication 3243 (2005), 2 pages.

Provides safety tips for workers in trenches. A

Spanish version is on the reverse side.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/trench/trench_

safety_tips_card.pdf 

Crane Safety

Safety and Health Topics: Crane, Derrick and

Hoist Safety -- Hazards and Possible Solutions

December 2003. One page.

OSHA website index provides references to aid

in identifying crane, derrick and hoist hazards in

the workplace.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cranehoistsafety/rec

ognition.html

Electrical Hazards

Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)

OSHA Publication 3120 (Revised 2002), 174 KB

PDF, 45 pages.

This booklet presents OSHA’s general requirements for controlling hazardous energy during

service or maintenance of machines or equipment.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3120.pdf

Controlling Electrical Hazards 

OSHA Publication 3075 (Revised 2002), 349 KB

PDF, 71 pages.

This publication provides an overview of basic

electrical safety on the job.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3075.pdf

Safety and Health Topics: Lockout/Tagout

OSHA website index to information about lockout/tagout, including hazard recognition, compliance, standards and directives, Review

Commission and Administrative Law Judge

Decisions, standard interpretations and compliance letters, compliance assistance and training.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardous

energy/index.html

CONSTRUCTION 23
Hazard Communication

Hazard Communication: Foundation of

Workplace Chemical Safety Programs

OSHA website index for resources on hazard

communication.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardcommunications/index.html

Frequently Asked Questions for Hazard

Communication

OSHA, 6 pages.

Website questions and answers on hazard communication.

http://www.osha.gov/html/faq-hazcom.html 

Hazard Communication Standard

OSHA Fact Sheet No. 93-26 (1993), 3 pages. 

Highlights protections under OSHA’s Hazard

Communication standard.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show

_document?p_table=FACT_SHEETS&p_id=151

Hazard Communication Guidelines for

Compliance

OSHA Publication 3111 (2000), 112 KB PDF, 33

pages.

This document aids employers in understanding the Hazard Communication standard and in

implementing a hazard communication program.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3111.pdf 

Chemical Hazard Communication

OSHA Publication 3084 (1998), 248 KB PDF, 31

pages. 

This booklet answers several basic questions

about chemical hazard communication.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3084.pdf 

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

Handy source of general industrial hygiene

information on several hundred chemicals/classes for workers, employers and occupational

health professionals.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npg.html

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

24 WORKER SAFETY SERIES
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

CONSTRUCTION 25

Material Handling

Materials Handling and Storage

OSHA Publication 2236 (Revised 2002), 559 KB

PDF, 40 pages.

A comprehensive guide to hazards and safe

work practices in handling materials.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha2236.pdf

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment 

OSHA Publication 3155 (2003), 305 KB PDF, 44

pages.

Discusses equipment most commonly used for

protection for the head, including eyes and face

and the torso, arms, hands, and feet. The use of

equipment to protect against life-threatening

hazards is also discussed.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3155/

osha3155.html

Safety and Health Topics: Personal Protective

Equipment 

OSHA website index to hazard recognition, control and training related to personal protective

equipment. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/personal

protectiveequipment/index.html

Toxic Metals: Cadmium

Safety and Health Topics: Cadmium

OSHA website index to recognition, evaluation,

control, compliance and training related to

Cadmium.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/index.html

Electronic Construction

Resources

OSHA eTools and Expert Advisors can be found

on OSHA’s website: http://www.osha.gov

eTools

Construction: Preventing Fatalities. Construction

can be a safe occupation when workers are

aware of the hazards, and an effective safety
and health program is used. This eTool will help

workers identify and control the hazards that

commonly cause the most serious construction

injuries. A Spanish translation of this eTool is

also available. 

Scaffolding: Supported Scaffolds and Suspended

Scaffolds. These eTools provide illustrated examples of safe scaffolding use. Hazards are identified as well as the controls that keep those hazards from becoming tragedies.

Solutions for Electrical Contractors. This eTool

describes common hazards that electrical contractors may encounter and possible solutions for

these hazards. The eTool was developed in cooperation with the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) as part of the OSHA-IEC Alliance.

Steel Erection. America's 56,000 steel erectors

suffer 35 fatal accidents per year, a rate of one

death per 1,600 workers. OSHA estimates that

30 of those deaths as well as nearly 1,150 annual lost-workday injuries can be averted by compliance with provisions of the Steel Erection

standard, developed with industry and labor

through negotiated rulemaking. To that end, this

eTool has been created to educate employers

and workers.

OSHA’s Expert Advisors

The Asbestos Advisor: This computer program

provides an introduction to the scope and logic

of the regulations for general industry, construction and maritime. 

Lead in Construction Advisor: This computer

program provides an introduction to the scope

and logic of the regulations regarding occupational exposure to lead and summary guidance

to facilitate compliance. 

26 WORKER SAFETY SERIES

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Construction Industry

Cooperative and State Programs

Voluntary Protection Programs

OSHA recognizes Voluntary Protection Programs

(VPP) worksites for their excellent safety and

health management systems.

OSHA Construction

OSHA has announced an OSHA Construction

program to address the unique needs of the

industry. The goal of this program is to make

VPP more accessible to construction employers,

especially small construction employers and to

maintain the high standards of VPP while expanding participation to broad construction

industry categories such as short-term projects,

mobile workforces, general contractors and subcontractors. Pilot programs in these categories

have shown beneficial results for participants.

OSHA Challenge

OSHA has created the Challenge Pilot to provide greater opportunities to eligible employers

interested in working with OSHA to create safer

and healthier workplaces. The pilot is designed

to reach and guide employers and companies 

in all major industry groups who are strongly

committed to improving their safety and health

management systems and interested in pursuing recognition in VPP. OSHA Challenge provides participants a guide or roadmap to

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Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

28 WORKER SAFETY SERIES

improve performance and ultimately the opportunity to take part in the VPP Merit or Star programs.

Alliance Program

Alliances enable organizations committed to

workplace safety and health to collaborate with

OSHA to prevent injuries and illnesses in the

workplace.

OSHA has a number of national and regional or

area office alliances that impact the construction

industries. The details of these alliances can be

found on www.osha.gov under Alliances.

OSHA Strategic Partnership Program

Partnerships are voluntary, cooperative relationships between OSHA and groups of employers,

employees and employee representatives

(sometimes including other stakeholders and

sometimes involving only one employer) that

encourage, assist and recognize efforts to eliminate serious hazards and achieve a high level of

worker safety and health. National construction

partnerships include AMEC Construction,

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and

the National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association.

In addition to the national partnerships, OSHA
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

CONSTRUCTION 29

has had nearly 170 regional strategic partnerships with the construction industry since the

program’s start in 1998.

State Programs

Twenty-six States and territories operate their

own occupational safety and health programs

under plans approved by Federal OSHA. Twentytwo of these programs cover both private sector

and public (State and local government)

employees; four cover public employees only.

States may have somewhat different requirements and procedures for the construction

industry, but they are required to be at least as

effective as Federal OSHA. All State Plans offer 

a VPP program and have additional cooperative

programs parallel to OSHA’s Alliance and

Strategic Partnership programs. A list of States

with approved plans may be found at

www.osha.gov

Consultation

Every state offers a free, on-site consultation

program to help small employers find and fix

hazards and establish effective safety and health

management systems. Funded primarily by

OSHA, consultation is provided at no cost to

small employers and is delivered by state

authorities through professional safety and

health consultants. More information on

OSHA’s Consultation Program appears on the

agency’s website at www.osha.gov
Success Stories 

Partnership Reduced Injuries during Art Museum Renovation

In 2002, OSHA and AMEC Construction developed a partnership to prevent injuries at the

$425 million rebuilding/renovation construction

project for New York City’s renowned Museum

of Modern Art (MoMA).

The partnership covered some 220 employees

and 17 employers who worked to more than

double MoMA’s space and expand facilities for

special exhibitions, public programs, educational outreach and scholarly research.

AMEC employees completed more than 800,000

hours in 2003 and racked up two impressive

safety and health statistics: the number of Days

Away Restricted and Transferred (DART) percentage was 90 percent below the national average

for their standard industrial classification (SIC)

code and the Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR)

30 WORKER SAFETY SERIES

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
was 92 percent below the national average for

their SIC.

Best practices used included daily safety inspections conducted at the site and any hazards

identified were corrected immediately. Inspection results were discussed at safety committee

meetings. Each employee knew that a safety

issue would be dealt with promptly when it

came to management’s attention. Additionally,

an on-site incentive encouraged safe workplace

practices.

The right combination of best safety management practices, partnering between OSHA and

AMEC Construction, and a DART percentage 90

percent below the national average are fitting

achievements for a new and better home for the

world’s leading collection of modern and contemporary art.

Fatalities Prevented, Injuries

Minor, Workers’ Comp

Costs Slashed

Turner Construction and OSHA Teamed

Up on Wisconsin Stadium Project

Teamwork at the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau

Field is not just for professional football players.

A partnership between Turner Construction and

OSHA made teamwork in achieving health and

safety a top priority for construction workers

building and expanding the stadium. 

In 2003, the $295 million renovation of the

Lambeau Field stadium was completed, more

than doubling the size of the previous stadium.

Seating capacity was increased from 60,890 to

over 72,000.

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Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

32 WORKER SAFETY SERIES

Partnering with OSHA paid off. There were

fewer serious injuries for workers and a more

than 20 percent cut in workers’ compensation

costs for the contractor.

The partnership had three goals:

• All contractors have an effective safety and

health program;

• All hazards corrected daily after daily audits

are conducted; and 

• Increase the level of training for supervisors

and employees.

The work was more hazardous than typical steel

erections because stadiums are curved and

angular in shape. Also, construction and demolition activities were taking place simultaneously,

often within a few feet of each other. 

Several potential serious accidents were avoided by requiring all contractors’ safety and health

programs to establish a requirement of 100 percent fall protection at or above six feet.

One worker on the project slipped off a steel

beam located six stories above ground. Thanks

to his use of full fall protection, serious injury --

or possible death -- was avoided. He was back at

work shortly after his rescue. Less than two

months later, a second worker slipped from a

beam, but also escaped injury because of his

fall protection equipment. Like his coworker, he

returned to work the same day. An ironworker

and a carpenter also fell and were saved by

their harnesses.
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

CONSTRUCTION 33

A significant achievement included 4,300 workers completing OSHA’s 10-hour construction

training. An added benefit for the industry is

that these employees are bringing their safety

training to other sites where they are now working.
Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

Employers are responsible for providing a

safe and healthful workplace for their

employees. OSHA’s role is to assure the

safety and health of America’s workers by

setting and enforcing standards; providing

training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and

health. 

This informational booklet provides a general overview of a particular topic related to

OSHA standards. It does not alter or determine compliance responsibilities in OSHA

standards or the Occupational Safety and

Health Act of 1970. Because interpretations

and enforcement policy may change over

time, you should consult current OSHA

administrative interpretations and decisions

by the Occupational Safety and Health

Review Commission and the Courts for

additional guidance on OSHA compliance

requirements.

This publication is in the public domain and

may be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission. Source credit is requested

but not required.

This information is available to sensory

impaired individuals upon request. Voice

phone: (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY)

number: (877) 889-5627.