Safety

One of the important things that construction workers are concerned with in the US is protective equipment. The rules about health and safety require equipment that for a construction worker may be uncomfortable and restrictive in situations where his dexterity is needed the most. In a job where his hands are needed for intricate details, gloves are particularly restrictive and in a job where peripheral vision is important goggles may be a hindrance, so the problem is what can be done to protect those in the construction industry who are so desperately in need of a health and safety plan. Health and safety in construction, means being creative and finding ways to protect the people who are doing the work, without hindering the work itself. Realistic health and safety plans must be drawn with the since that not all safety requirements will work in some construction situations. Finding the ones that work best for the person in construction can be a challenge, but saving a life will make it worth every minute. It takes moments to figure out how to keep the worker safe, and a lifetime to care for him should he get hurt so it is important to at least try.

Our program is built on extensive, specialized training and an intensive hiring process. Safety is the top priority for every A.P. employee, and annual employee reviews include safety as an area of evaluation. All salaried employees are required to complete nine safety-related courses and attend regular in-house safety seminars. Many AP Construction employees hold the coveted Construction Health and Safety Technicians Certification. A.P. Our specialized rail, dam, and hazardous material training and certification ensures a safe working environment for all. We emphasize a strong subcontractor safety program, including a safety review of each subcontractor's work prior to the start of a project. Each subcontractor must designate a site safety representative who has completed the 10-hour OSHA training course.

Experience Modification Ratio (EMR): EMR is a number that is used for several purposes.  Most importantly, it is used by insurance carriers to determine past and future risks. The lower the EMR, the better the Workers Compensation premium.  The higher the EMR, then the workers compensation premium is going to be higher. The industry average is at 1.0.

OSHA Recordable Incident Rate: include all work related deaths, illnesses, and injuries which result in a loss of consciousness, restriction of work or motion, permanent transfer to another job within the company, or that require some type of medical treatment other than first-aid treatment (as defined by OSHA).





Highlighted Standards in Residential Construction:

Recording and reporting occupational injuries and illness (29 CFR 1904)

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910.178, Powered industrial trucks
  


• 1910.1200, Hazard communication
  


• 1910.1201, Retention of DOT markings, placards and labels

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

 

Safety and Health Programs

An effective safety and health program depends on the credibility of management's involvement in the program; inclusion of employees in safety and health decisions; rigorous worksite analysis to identify hazards and potential hazards, including those which could result from a change in worksite conditions or practices; stringent prevention and control measures; and thorough training. It addresses hazards whether or not they are regulated by government standards. The following references characterize and further explain safety and health programs.

Safety and Health Programs

• Job Hazard Analysis. OSHA Publication 3071, (Revised 2002). Also available as a 497 KB PDF, 51 pages. Explains what a job hazard analysis is and offers guidelines to help employers conduct their own step-by-step analysis.


• Safety & Health Management Systems. OSHA eTool. There are four crucial questions you should be asking when it comes to safety and health programs. The detailed answers are found in the four modules of this eTool.


• $afety Pays Program. OSHA. Assists employers in estimating the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses and the impact on a company's profitability.


• Safety and Health Management Program Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines. OSHA Federal Register Notice 54:3904-3916, (1989, January 26). Provides safety and health program management guidelines for use by employers to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
  • Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program. OSHA Slide Presentation. Summarizes safety and health program guidelines. 20 slides
    
• Safety and Health Add Value. OSHA Publication 3180. Also available as a 200 KB PDF, 6 pages. Describes how safety and health add value to your business, your workplace, and your life.


• Worker Protection Programs in Construction. Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety & Health (elcosh), (1994, January 14). Originally created for the OSHA Office of Construction and Engineering in January, 1994 by a private research company, this is a report on the effectiveness of worker protection programs.


• For additional information, see OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs Safety and Health Topics Page.

For more specific details, please visit this link.

-Residential Construction OSHA Regulations