OSHA regulations are there to protect workers and property owners. Failure to adhere to OSHA regulations can lead to stiff fines for construction companies. Injuries on the jobsite that are reported to OSHA will lead to fines being imposed and crippling delays.
Statistics show that residential remodelling construction racked up over $19.2 million in fines in 2014. Roofers are at the top of the list for the most fines. Adhering to safety procedures might slow work down a little and it’s for this reason that construction workers often take short cuts. Falls are always the number one offence and can even lead to death. One in five worker fatalities in the US occur in the construction industry.
Here’s a list of the most common violations from 2014:
- Insufficient fall protection
Citations: 3,431
Fines: $10.7 million. - Improper use of ladders
Citations: 1,056
Fines: $2 million - Insufficient fall protection training
Citations: 841
Fines: $948,146 - Not wearing eye and face protection
Citations: 518
Fines: $835,924 - Unsafe scaffolding
Citations: 416
Fines: $756,952
Ensuring that the crew is properly trained and adhering to safety practices might slow down your build. That may affect your profit margin and it is tempting to cut a few corners here and there to save money and time. But your first responsibility is the safety of your crew and nothing cuts into profit margins more than hefty fines. Injuries onsite and lost time cause long delays and mean that you are without vital crew members. Loosing a crew member slows down projects that can cost more time and money than working safely.
- All employees on the jobsite must be properly trained in OSHA safety standards. Document training and get crew members to sign off on it.
- Jobsite managers are responsible for ensuring that work crews wear safety gear and work safely on site.
- All equipment must be checked regularly, and faulty or broken items replaced.
- Every new jobsite must be inspected for hazards and the necessary precautions must be taken.
- Jobsites should be cleaned up every day and waste materials sorted into bins for recycling or removal.