Construction Site Laws

• Safety is the number one priority when it comes to construction site laws. construction site image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com

  Construction laws in the United States have been put into place by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to keep construction sites and workers safe from fire, accidents and other workplace hazards. OSHA regulates these laws in construction sites performing regular checks, mainly in commercial construction sites.

General Cleaning and Maintenance

• During any type of construction, alteration or repairs, all debris (including scrap wood with protruding nails) should be kept out of work areas, passageways and stairs in and around all buildings and structures on the property. All combustible scrap should be removed and properly disposed of. Separate collection containers should be provided to collect all debris/garbage, including used and oily rags, and other refuse. Containers that hold hazardous waste, flammable material, harmful dusts, oily material and other similar products should have a securely fitting lid. All garbage and waste should be disposed of at frequent intervals.

Protective Gear

• The employer is responsible for making sure that all workers use proper and adequate protective equipment in all aspects of operation where there is exposure to hazardous conditions, including hazardous material and equipment where safety guidelines should be followed, such as protective eyewear, gloves and face masks. All protective equipment and lifesaving equipment must be kept in good working condition and must be made available for the safety of the workers at all times.

Fire Hazards and Prevention

• The employer will be responsible for the development and implementation of fire safety programs, which are to be made available to all workers throughout the course of the construction project. The employer will also provide all necessary equipment and in the case of a fire emergency, workers will have immediate access to that equipment. All workers will be trained in the use of the safety equipment and will have a clear understanding of the safety plan of action in case of a fire or emergency. Portable fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, will be provided by the employer. A fire extinguisher will be provided for every 3,000 square feet of the building (not rated less than 2A) and travel distance from any point of the protected area to the nearest fire extinguisher will not exceed 100 feet.