Construction Site Safety
Presented by:
John Able, CSP
Occupational Safety Training Specialist
CONN-OSHA
March 17, 2015
Objectives
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Fall Protection
Scaffolding, Stairs and Ladders
Electrical Hazards
Trenching Safety
1926.20 General Safety and Health Provisions
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1926.20(b) Accident prevention responsibilities
– It shall be the responsibility of the employer to
initiate and maintain such programs as may be
necessary to comply with this part.
– Such programs shall provide for frequent and
regular inspections of the job sites, materials
and equipment to be made by competent
persons designated by the employers.
1926.21 Safety Training and Education

1926.21(b) Employer responsibility
– The employer shall instruct each
employee in the recognition and the
avoidance of unsafe conditions and the
regulations applicable to his work
environment to control or eliminate any
hazards or other exposure to illness or
injury.
1926 Subpart M - Fall Protection
1926.500 (b) Definitions applicable to
this subpart (continued)
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"Personal fall arrest system" means a system used to arrest
an employee in a fall from a working level. It consists of an
anchorage, connectors, a body belt or body harness and
may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or
suitable combinations of these.
"Positioning device system"
means a body belt or body
harness system rigged to allow
an employee to be supported on
an elevated vertical surface, such
as a wall, and work with both
hands free while leaning.
1926.501(b)(1) "Unprotected sides and edges"
Trigger height - 6 feet or more
Your choice(s)…
Personal fall arrest system
(PSAF)
Guard rails
Safety net
Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected
from falling through holes above lower levels, by personal fall
arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around such
holes.
1926.502(b) "Guardrail systems"
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
Top edge height of top rails shall be 42 inches plus or
minus 3 inches
capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at
least 200 pounds
1926.502(d) Personal fall arrest system (PFAS)
Horizontal lifelines shall be designed, installed, and used,
under the supervision of a qualified person, as part of a
complete personal fall arrest system, which maintains a safety
factor of at least two.
Lanyards and vertical lifelines shall have a minimum breaking
strength of 5,000 pounds.
Anchorage's used for attachment of personal fall arrest
equipment be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per
employee attached.

The attachment point of the
body belt shall be located in
the center of the wearer's
back.

The employer shall provide for
prompt rescue of employees in
the event of a fall or shall
assure that employees are
able to rescue themselves.

Personal fall arrest systems
shall be inspected prior to
each use for wear, damage
and other deterioration, and
defective components shall be
removed from service.
1926.503 Training requirements.
 (a)
Training Program
 (b) Certification of training
 (c) Retraining
Remember:
Training, and Supervision
1926 Subpart L - SCAFFOLDS
1926.450 Scope, Application
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Covers all scaffolds used in workplaces
Does not apply to crane or derrick
suspended personnel platforms, which
are covered by 1926.550(g)
Aerial lifts are covered 1926.453
A little
planning
could have
prevented
this.
1926.451 General Requirements

(a) Capacity
– support own weight and 4x the
maximum intended load
– designed by a qualified person and built
and loaded to design
1926.451 General Requirements
(continued)

(b) Scaffold platform construction
– Platforms fully planked or decked
– Each abutted end of plank shall rest on a
separate support surface
– Overlap platforms not less than 12” only over
supports, unless restrained to prevent
movement
1926.451 General Requirements
(continued)
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(g) Fall protection (Personal Fall
–
–
–
–
Arrest Systems or guardrails)
Required at 10 feet
Personal Fall Arrest System required
for erectors and dismantlers where
feasible
Toprails (38” to 45” high)
Use crossbracing in lieu of top or
midrails in some cases
Have a well-trained “Competent
Person” on each Site!
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Inspect Daily and as
necessary
Scaffolds must only be
erected, moved,
dismantled and/or
altered by qualified
workers authorized by
the employer
Section 1926.454
Training Requirements
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Five training areas
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–
–
–
–
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Nature of electrical, fall, and falling object hazards
Correct procedures for protection of above
Proper use of the scaffold
Load capacities of scaffolds
Requirements of this Subpart
Retraining as necessary
to restore proficiency
1926 Subpart X - Stairways and Ladders
1926.1052 - Stairways
What should be done?
1926.1053 Ladders
No Guardrails
Unstable Use of
Stepladders Standing on Top
Steps
1926.1053(b) Use
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Ladder loading
Purpose for use
Ladder angle
1926.1053(b) Use
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Must be inspected by
a competent person
for visible defects.
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Withdraw from service
until repaired.
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Tag immediately with
"Do Not Use" or similar
language.
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Mark in a manner that
readily identifies it as
defective.
1926.1053(b) Use

Face the ladder
when using.
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Use at least one
hand to grasp the
ladder when going
up and/or down.

Do not carry any
object or load that
could cause you to
lose balance and fall.
1926.1060(a) Training requirements
The employer must train each employee using
ladders and stairways to recognize hazards and the
procedures to be followed to minimize these hazards.

A competent person must train each employee in the
following areas, as applicable:
– The nature of fall hazards in the area;
– The correct procedures for the fall protection systems
to be used;
– The proper use of all ladders;
– Retrain each employee as necessary to maintain the
understanding and knowledge acquired through
compliance with this section.
Remember:
Training, and Supervision
1926 Subpart K - Electrical
403(b)(1) Examination
The employer shall ensure that electrical
equipment is free from recognized
hazards that are likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to employees.
403(b)(1) Examination
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Suitability for installation and use in conformity
with the provisions of this subpart - listing,
labeling
Mechanical strength and durability
Electrical insulation
Heating effects
1926.403 (d)(1) Mounting
Electric equipment shall be firmly secured to the surface on which
it is mounted.
1926.403(i)(2) Guarding of live parts
Live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall
be guarded against accidental contact by cabinets or other forms
of enclosures.
1926.404(a)(2)
Reverse Polarity
Neutral
Hot
404(b)(1)(i) General
The employer shall use either ground fault circuit
interrupters as specified in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this
section or an assured equipment grounding conductor
program as specified in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this
section to protect employees on construction sites.
405(a)(2)(ii)(E)
All lamps for general illumination shall
be protected from accidental contact or
breakage.
1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(J)

Extension cord sets used with portable electric tools and
appliances shall be of three-wire type and shall be designed for
hard or extra-hard usage. Flexible cords used with temporary and
portable lights shall be designed for hard or extra-hard usage.
1926.405(b) Cabinets, boxes, and fittings
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Conductors entering boxes, cabinets, or fittings shall be
protected from abrasion, and openings through which
conductors enter shall be effectively closed
Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings shall also be
effectively closed
Overhead Powerlines
Power Line Facts
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Overhead lines are typically not insulated.
Any covering is generally a weather
protection, not insulation.
Over 90 percent of the contacts occur on
overhead distribution lines
Operators are normally safe if they stay on
the equipment
Ground personnel are over 8 times more
likely to be killed
Maintain Safe Working
Clearance
10’ Minimum
MINIMUM 10'
Distance
Remember:
Training, and Supervision
1926 Subpart P - Excavations

EVERY employee in an excavation shall be
protected against cave-ins
– Exceptions
• stable rock, or
• < 5 feet deep AND the Competent Person inspection
reveals no indication of potential cave-ins
– Protective Systems shall
• have capacity to resist loads intended without failure

COMPETENT PERSON
– one who is capable of identifying existing
hazards in the surroundings, or working
conditions which are unsanitary,
hazardous, or dangerous to employees
AND who has authority to CORRECT it
IMMEDIATELY.
Competent Person Duties
 Daily
Inspections
– Competent Person MUST inspect
• excavations,
• adjacent areas, and
• protective systems for:
– evidence of conditions that could result in:
» possible cave-ins,
» failure of protective systems,
» hazardous atmospheres, or
» other hazardous conditions
(1926.651(k)(1))
Competent Person Duties
(Cont’d.)
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When to Inspect
– prior to start of work
– as needed throughout the shift
– after every rainstorm or other occurrence
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Competent Person Actions
– where such hazardous potential is found,
“exposed employees shall be removed from the
hazardous area until the necessary precautions
have been taken to ensure their safety.”
(1926.651(k)(2))
DEFINITIONS
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Excavation
– any man-made cut,
cavity, trench, or
depression in an
earth surface, formed
by earth removal
DEFINITIONS (Continued)
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Shield
– a structure that is able to withstand forces
imposed by a cave-in and protect workers
DEFINITIONS (Continued)
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Sloping
– method of protecting workers from caveins by excavating to form sides that are
appropriately inclined for the soil type
being excavated
DEFINITIONS (Continued)
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SOIL CLASSIFICATIONS
– Stable Rock - natural solid material that can be
excavated with vertical sides and will remain intact
– Type A – more than 3,000 pounds per square foot (psf)
– Type B – more than 1,000 pounds psf, (< 3,000 psf)
– Type C – less than 1,000 pounds psf
MOST COMMONLY
VIOLATED STANDARDS
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No Protective Systems
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Material/Equipment falling in
–
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Spoils/Equipment 2 feet from edge
No Daily Competent Person Inspection
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
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Surface Encumbrances
– must be removed or supported
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Underground Installations
– location must be determined
before excavation begins
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
(Continued)
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ACCESS/EGRESS
– Stairway, ladder or ramp
• no more than 25 feet away
• trench more than 4 feet deep
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
(Continued)
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Equipment Warning System
– barricades, hand/mechanical signals, stop
logs if no clear view

Hazardous Atmospheres
– where oxygen deficiencies or hazardous
atmospheres are found or can be
reasonably expected, adequate
precautions must be taken
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
(Continued)

Water Accumulation
– no work in excavations where water is
present or accumulating unless adequate
precautions have been taken
• water removal system must be monitored by
Competent Person
• special support or shield system
• safety harness and lifeline
Remember:
Training, and Supervision
Summery of Objectives
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Introduction to OSHA
Fall Protection
Scaffolding, Stairs and Ladders
Electrical Hazards
Trenching Safety
The Golden Rule…
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It takes the entire crew on the job to recognize, avoid
and respond to hazards so everybody goes home
safely every day.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility – ALL of the time.
If you see a Hazard,
and would not want
someone you love to
be exposed to that
Hazard for any length
of time, that would be
a Serious Hazard.
Construction Site Safety
Presented by:
John Able, CSP
Occupational Safety Training Specialist
CONN-OSHA
March 17, 2015