Tips for Construction Site Safety Compliance

How to Increase Safety at a Construction Site
A construction site is an inherently risky place. There is large equipment moving in seemingly random patterns without traffic lights. Workers are climbing on temporary scaffoldings or unfinished floors and ceilings. Electrical equipment, power cords and wires appear to take up every bit of free space. Because of this controlled chaos, construction safety should be at a premium. Of the 25 most dangerous jobs in America, various jobs in construction are listed at least nine times.

We understand the challenges of keeping a work site safe at Clarion Safety Systems. It’s not always an easy task, but paying attention to regulations and compliance issues does a couple of things for your company: it keeps workers safer and it protects your company from lawsuits. By meeting or exceeding the regulations for your work site you put your company in its best possible position.

The Importance of Construction Compliance
Even in today’s era of regulation reform, construction companies face a long list of regulations they must follow. These run the gamut from environmental rules to labor issues, but among the most important of these are safety rules. In the U.S., the primary agency responsible for worker safety in the construction trades is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Its various roles associated with construction site safety include the following:

• Worker training standards
• Compliance guidance for companies and workers
• Enforcement of standards
• Worker rights
• Suicide prevention
• Heat safety
• Fall prevention

Compliance with OSHA regulations is at best a complicated task even for a company doing its utmost to meet all standards. Some of the standards involve difficult to interpret language. There are also many regulations that change each year and volumes of data and information to keep up with. Many companies may find it helpful to partner with a company that is experienced with the regulatory environment and how to maintain compliance.

The Main Areas to Focus On
OSHA publishes a booklet entitled “Recommended Practices for Safety & Health Programs in Construction.” This booklet identifies several areas where a company can enhance its work site for better safety. Among the most important of these is to establish a health and safety program at each job site. It addresses the importance of management and worker participation in safety initiatives and the identification of potential hazards. It establishes the necessity of good communication and evaluation and continued improvement of a program. The booklet also covers the best ways to manage and control hazards.

The Importance of Confined Space Warnings
One area in particular that poses a danger to construction workers is entering a confined space that may be hazardous. Perhaps the best way to address confined space safety is with clearly visible warning labels. These alert workers to a hazard that might not be self-evident. We print several warning labels for confined spaces at Clarion, including the following:

• Warning/Confined space label
• No access for unauthorized persons label
• Do not enter label
• Danger/permit required label

The labels clearly identify the space as dangerous with bright graphics and often additional text. They are made of premium polyester to stand up to time and the elements. The graphics make the message clear for all workers, regardless of language spoken, and they meet the best practices of ANSI and ISO designs.

The Overall Role of Signage
Overall, proper signage on a construction work site plays an important role in compliance. In certain situations, OSHA requires that workers be notified in clear language and symbols that a danger is present. Failure to post required signage can result in your company receiving citations and fines. If there is an injury or death as a result of inadequate signage, your company can be fined or be named in a lawsuit.

At Clarion Safety Systems our products help you meet compliance standards. Not only do we offer OSHA compliance signage, but we have labels and warnings that meet the design standards of the following organizations:

• ANSI
• ISO
• REACH
• UL
• CEMA
• GHS

We have specific labels for electrocution, general danger, arc flash, emergency stop and many more. They are all designed to be clear, informative and to comply with all regulations. The labels, warning signs and lockout/tagout notices can be produced in several languages for a diverse workforce. Labels can also be customized to meet a specific need of your work site.

The Significance of Proper Display
For signage to be effective it must be displayed where it is visible. This is also a compliance issue, as poorly situated signs can result in a fine. OSHA states that danger signs should be positioned wherever a potential workplace hazard exists. Caution signs should be posted in a place to warn employees and visitors of a potential danger. Finally, safety signs should be mounted in places where they can be read to increase job safety.

The Role of Clarion Safety Systems
Our company can help you meet compliance and display the most effective signs to keep your work site safe. Contact our experts today to learn how we can help with your company’s construction regulation compliance needs.

• Best Practices