Residential Construction Safety Issues

• Construction is a very dangerous industry to work in, even when building a small home. Residential construction carries risks that need to be eliminated to ensure employee safety. Fortunately, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration -- more commonly referred to as OSHA -- has specified a number of regulations designed to protect site workers in the residential sector.

Method Statements/Risk Assessments

• Residential construction workers must establish a health and safety program, which is to be approved before any work commences on site by the contractor. Within this health and safety program lies a method statement, which defines exactly how the contractor is going to carry out the work. A risk assessment is also required, which identifies any hazards, either on-site, or inherent to the nature of the work being carried out. The risk assessment explains how these risks will be minimized, through altering the method in which the work is done, or by taking preventative action, such as wearing protective clothing.

First Aid

• OSHA regulations state that at least one individual who is trained in first aid must be on site at all times, to administer care to minor injuries as required. It will also be the function of the first aid representative to decide whether the injured worker needs hospital treatment. He or she should also maintain records of injuries sustained, for future reference.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Every worker on site should wear personal protective equipment to minimize the risks encountered on site. At the very least, this should consist of a hard hat, a high-visibility jacket and steel-toe-capped boots. OSHA also requires that personal protective equipment is inspected regularly, to ensure that it is in a good condition.

Working at Height

• Scaffolding and ladders should be constructed properly, and inspected regularly, to ensure they are stable and safe. Scaffolding must be erected on a flat and stable surface, and no work at height should be carried out within 32 feet of overhead power cables. Handrails must also be installed around any platforms over a height of six and a half feet, to reduce the risk of falls.

Danger to the Public

• The nature of residential construction means that there may be occupants in some of the completed houses while work goes on at the rest of the site. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the site manager to ensure that the public is protected from accidents through the use of signage, barriers and clearly defined safe walkways. Debris netting should be fixed to any scaffolds to prevent materials from falling off the edge, and possibly striking a passer-by below.