REPRINT - BUSINESS COMMENTARY Chesapeake Business Ledger JUNE 2003 page 19 No Games for OSHA, MOSH: Tag you're it! By Bill Bakey, President Catalyst Connections, Inc. Job site safety is not a game and it affects the bottom line of not only the contactors and crews but also additional expenses that may be handed down to the customer. It sometimes becomes difficult in minimizing construction costs while remaining in compliance with both MOSH and OSHA regulations. The key still remains with developing solid safety programming and getting everyone involved in maintaining a strong safety attitude. This includes the involvement of workers, sub-contractors and even in some cases the customer or homeowner visiting a job site. An accident-free workplace becomes a return on investment for everyone. According to government statistics, within the Department of Labor, general contractor’s spent over seven and a half million dollars during 2002, for job site safety violations. Although the citations vary in size and dollar amount, they all seem to connect to the common factor of human error or a casual attitude toward safety compliance on job sites. We may hear, “I’m too small of a contractor or builder to implement a formal safety program; It’s for the bigger contractors.” The top 10 citations accounted for over 64 percent of the overall penalties imposed to contractors and subcontractors within the home construction trade. Guess what? “Tag you're it!” Besides other job site citations and penalties, MOSH may impose an additional fine of $250 to both general contractors and subcontractors for failing to have and comply with a written safety program. This past year, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) continued to focus their job site inspections on the leading hazards that cause the most injuries and deaths. These were: Fall from elevations (e.g. floors, platforms, roofs) Struck by (e.g. falling objects, vehicles) Caught in/between (e.g. cave-ins, unguarded equipment) Electrical shock (e.g. overhead lines, power tools, cords. MOSH indicates that fall protection and scaffolding non-compliance within the home construction industry still remain two of the most commonly cited safety violations which bring costly penalties to both builders and their sub-contractors. These violations are normally listed as “serious” violations, where there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the contactor knew, or should have known, of the hazard. The serious violations can bring penalties up to $7,000 per violation. However take a previous violation where, upon re-inspection, a substantially similar violation is found, it becomes a “willful” violation that can bring penalties up to $70,000 per citation. The TAG gets larger. How is your safety program? Are you in compliance with federal and state regulations? You take the test. Initial project / job site safety analysis - sequences/procedure/ safety responsibilities Identification of job site work activities - by competent person / professional Evaluation / monitoring of sub-contractor safety - conformance with job site sfety plan. Supervisor / Employee safety training conducted – safety compliance, reporting an avoidance of hazards. Procedures for controlling hazardous operations – leading edge, scaffolding, hazardous materials, trenches cranes, etc. Documentation of training, inspections incidents, and hazard reports. Employee involvement process – hazard analysis, prevention, avoidance or correction and reporting. Job site emergency response- plan hazard, fire, and medical response. Do the employees and sub-contractor understand and practice the safety programs? Strong safety programming may only be the first step toward shifting the safety attitude and developing an accident-free work place. When programming is combined with the focus and determination of each builder or general contractor the investment in safety pays off. Job site safety is not a game, and it affects the bottom line for everyone. If you need to strengthen your safety program contact a safety professional for help or contact your nearest OSHA or MOSH office for assistance. (Catalyst Connections, Inc. is a business consulting firm focused on assisting business and the residential construction industry with organizational transition and issues that hinder business growth. Whether organizational or safety assessments or leadership growth the firm is there to assist the business, manufacturing and the residential construction industry segments. Developing strong safety programming – piece by piece.) |
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