If you look at the OSHA list of top construction safety violations every year, the list is pretty much unchanged. These are common areas that are present on large and small projects alike. This alone is reason enough to hire a residential construction project manager. He or she will put controls in place as well as be on-site to oversee the project. They can also work with the contractors to ensure all of their employees working on your project are trained properly when it comes to safety.
What Are the Top Safety Violations
According to a recent OSHA list, they are:
- Fall protection
- Hazard communication
- Scaffolding
- Lockout/Tagout
- Respiratory protection
Fall Protection
When working above ground, it is imperative that employers have safety precautions in place to arrest a fall. This should be the case at any height. The general contractor should be providing the equipment for the staff, but your construction project manager can also walk the site throughout the day to ensure that those working at heights have the proper safety equipment in place to arrest a fall should they slip.
Hazard Communication
There are likely to be hazardous chemicals on the job site, and it is up to the employer to ensure they are properly labeled and secured if need be. There may also be training required to handle certain chemicals. Again, your project manager can coordinate this with the contractor.
Scaffolding
It is not surprising to see this listed as one of the most dangerous areas of construction. If scaffolding is needed, we highly recommend you allow the contractor to make the arrangements. They will either own it or have a company they work with and trust to have it set up properly. The scaffolding needs to be set up properly to support the workers and materials that will be on it at any given time. There should also be fall protection in place for anyone working on the scaffolding. We would also recommend inspecting the scaffolding every day to ensure its integrity. If any areas are found to be suspect, they should be repaired before any staff are permitted to work on it.
Lockout/Tagout
This program is in place to ensure workers are not injured due to stored energy in equipment. Every employee on the site should be trained on the lockout/tagout program in place for this particular project.
Respiratory Protection
COVID-19 has brought significantly more attention to wearing masks and how they can protect you from certain harmful elements. Your contractor will need to make sure the proper masks are being used at various points in the construction to ensure the workers are not at risk. There will be dust, fumes, vapors, and smoke at various times, so the contractor and project manager can work together on proper ventilation and safety equipment to keep the workers safe.
Need to hire a residential construction project manager for a home build? Give us a call at 888-402-4180 for a free consultation. One call and we are sure you will choose Better Build Now!