Question:
What should I be doing to ensure the safety of my employees on the jobsite?
Answer:
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one in five workplace fatalities are on a construction site. And starting a safety and health program can be a wise business decision—reducing workplace injuries can have a positive effect on your bottom line. OSHA has a document called How to Develop and Implement a Safety and Health Program that is an excellent place to start—visit www.osha.gov/Region7/fallprotection/safety_health_prog.htm.
The Jobsite Safety Handbook (available in English and Spanish at www.builderbooks.com and viewable online at www.osha.gov/doc/jobsite/) highlights the minimum safe work practices and regulations related to the major hazards and causes of fatalities occurring in the residential construction industry. However, it does not relieve an employer from compliance with all the OSHA requirements contained in Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1926, and applicable standards for the residential construction industry (online at www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1926&v_description=Construction+-+(Standards+-+29+CFR).
A directory of OSHA training institute courses can be found at www.osha.gov/SLTC/residential/training.html.