It’s important to regularly review the safety regulations that apply to you and your crew.
Construction crews have to be extremely mindful of OSHA regulations in order to avoid safety violations and fines. We all know that, right? Well, it turns out, it might be a little more complex than it may seem.
As this article from Equipment World illustrates, even though the crew pictured in the article is displaying trench safety that leaves a lot to be desired, they are “technically” not violating OSHA regulations. That’s because they’re city employees, and in this case, their safety regulations are set by a state-run agency.
Depending on the state, safety regulations and fines could be handled by OSHA or state plans, and the strictness of these regulations will vary between the states as well. However, the goal is the same no matter who is setting the guidelines. According to OSHA, “State Plans must set workplace safety and health standards that are ‘at least as effective as’ as OSHA standards. Many State Plans adopt standards identical to OSHA.”
Just because your crew may not be directly regulated by OSHA doesn’t mean you can cut corners or expect lower fines. In some cases, state regulatory bodies can be more strict and issue higher fines than OSHA. As a contractor, it’s important to regularly review the safety regulations that apply to you and your crew.
If you have questions about which shoring equipment is necessary to comply with regulations, contact us at Luby Shoring Services. We’re happy to provide site-specific engineering services and shoring solutions that will keep you on the right side of the regulating body that governs you and that keeps you and your crew safe on the job.
