Construction Safety and Health Policy: Welcome!
Construction Safety and Health Policy: Welcome!
Construction Safety and Health Policy: Welcome!
CHERIE K. BERRY
COMMISSIONER
This sample program is provided to assist you as an employer in developing programs tailored to
your own operation. We encourage you to copy, expand, modify and customize this sample as
necessary to accomplish this goal.
This document is provided as a compliance aid, but does not constitute a legal interpretation of OSHA
Standards, nor does it replace the need to be familiar with, and follow, the actual OSHA Standards
(including any North Carolina specific changes.) Though this document is intended to be consistent with
OSHA Standards, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent, the OSHA standard should be
followed. Of course, we welcome your comments and feedback!
The North Carolina Department of Labor OSH Consultative Services Bureau can be contacted for further
assistance such as helping you set up your individual program and even with on-site surveys. Feel free
to contact us at 1-800-NCLABOR or at 919-807-2899. You may also want to visit our website at
http://www.nclabor.com/osha/consult/bcs1.htm
Remember: A written safety/health program is only effective if it is put into place!
______________________________________
YOUR COMPANY
______________________________________________
(ADDRESS)
__________________
(DATE)
Table of Contents
Safety Policy
Page 4
Assignment of Responsibilities
Page 5
Employee Placement
Page 5
Page 6
Page 6
Accident Investigation
Page 6
Page 7
Page 7
Disciplinary Policy
Page 8
Page 8
Vehicle Operations
Page 9
Safety Inspections
Page 9
Page 10
Date
ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
Company Management
Has overall responsibility for the companys safety program and regularly reaffirms support for
loss control activities
Insures that all employees are informed of top managements commitment to safety and the
abidance of all federal, state, and local regulations.
Establish company safety rules and programs, and provides supervision with the backing,
training and funds to implement these rules and programs.
Safety Coordinator
Responsible for implementation and monitoring the safety program.
Reviews and maintains current copy of all applicable Federal, State, and local safety and health
regulations.
Implements and monitors safety training programs and provides safety materials as needed.
Assists site supervision in accident investigation and recommends controls to prevent a
reoccurrence.
Assures proper notification in the event of an accident.
Supervisors / Foremen
Responsible for the safety of their employees and oversees the compliance with the safety
program and applicable state, federal, and local regulations.
Arranges for prompt medical attention in case of an injury and provides a through written
investigative report with recommendations to prevent a reoccurrence.
Employees
Responsible for learning and abiding by the rules and regulations which are applicable to their
assigned tasks. Reports all accidents and near-misses.
Perform their functions in the safest possible manner and encourage co-workers to do likewise.
EMPLOYEE PLACEMENT:
An Employee Questionnaire will be completed on each applicant for employment prior to
placing on the payroll.
The applicant will be interviewed by an ___________________(YOURCOMPANY) supervisor
that is familiar with the physical and mental requirements for the job. Areas that include prior
employment, health record, prior job injuries and illness will be discussed to assist in
determining applicant's capabilities for performing the job. Notes on the discussion can he
recorded on the back of the Employee Questionnaire.
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Where possible to do so, telephone reference checks will be made with at least two prior
employers.
On employees that will drive a company vehicle or drive their own vehicle and pull a company
trailer, a current, valid driver's license is required The license number and expiration date will be
recorded in the employee's file. All subsequent tickets and accidents must be immediately
reported to your immediate supervisor.
A Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check will be made on the employees described above at the
time of employment and at least every two years thereafter. When the MVR shows accidents or
violations, the employee's supervisor will counsel this employee to promote a better driving
record, and take other administrative action as appropriate.
ORIENTATION & TRAINING:
When a new employee is hired, orientation training of the employee will be done by the
Superintendent to cover such areas as: company safety rules and procedures, emergency
procedures including fire extinguisher use, personal protective equipment that is required on the
job, what the company expects from the employee, and our Hazard Communication Program.
Refresher Haz-Com training will be completed at any time that new materials used in the
operations offer any new exposure potential. When the Haz-Com training is completed, the
Superintendent will give the employee a copy of the Haz-Com Program, and complete a training
certificate, which is then sent to the office to be retained.
ACCIDENT REPORTING AND DISCUSSIONS:
An employee must report any accident or injury, regardless of how minor, to the Job
Superintendent.
All inquiries concerning an incident/accident/injury/property damage shall be referred to the
Superintendent. The employee will make no comments, provide no details, or express any
opinion as to the cause of the incident, who was at fault, responsibility for, or any intent of the
company regarding the incident
The Superintendent will investigate any personal injury accident, property damage claim or
vehicle accident associated with the job and will complete an Accident Investigation Report. The
purpose of this investigation is to assist in preventing this type of mishap in the future. The
employee will cooperate fully with the Superintendent in this investigation.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
Every personal injury accident or illness, property damage, and vehicle accident will be
investigated by the Superintendent or the Supervisor in charge of the operation. The investigation
will be recorded on the ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT. Every report will be
reviewed by Mr./Ms. (
.) Personal injury or illness will be recorded on the OSHA Log
300, as required. The completed Accident Investigation Reports will be reviewed during the
monthly Supervisory Safety Meetings.
6
Good housekeeping practices improve safety for everyone. When you create clutter, clean it up.
When clutter is left in the work area by someone else, clean it up and report this to the
Superintendent.
The possession or consumption of alcohol, drugs or any control substance is against policy and
violators are subject to dismissal.
DISCIPLINARY POLICY
Employees are expected to us good judgment when doing their work and to follow
established safety rules. We have implemented a disciplinary policy to provide appropriate
consequences for failure to follow company rules. This policy is designed not so much to
punish as to bring unacceptable behavior to the employees attention in a way that the
employee will be motivated to make corrections. The following consequences apply to the
violation of the same similar rule or the same/similar unacceptable behavior:
First Instance----verbal warning, notation in employee file, and retraining.
Second Instance---written reprimand, and retraining.
Third Instance---1-5 day suspension without pay, written reprimand and retraining.
Fourth Instance---Termination of employment.
An employee may be subject to immediate termination when a safety violation places an
employee or others at risk of permanent disability or death.
(Note: The above policy is included as an example only. Each company must customize
this program by adding any specific disciplinary rules that you may have and/or deleting
any that do not apply to your company.)
INTRODUCTION
The North Carolina Department of Labor has adopted the federal OSHA Hazard Communication
Standard 29 CFR (Code of Federal Regulation) 1910.1200. The Hazard Communication Standard became
effective on May 25, 1986 for North Carolina manufacturing employers and for state and local government
agencies, who have one or more employers who are exposed to hazardous chemicals. The standard became
effective to non-manufacturing employers on May 25, 1987.
The goal of the Hazard Communication Standard is to reduce the occurrence of workplace illnesses
and injuries caused by hazardous chemicals. The standard is designed to achieve this goal by providing
information and training for employees who work with hazardous chemicals.
All employers subject to the standard must have a written hazard communication program.
The written program must:
(1) describe how the criteria specified in the standard will be met for labels and other
forms of warning for material safety data sheets and for employee information and training;
(2) include a list of hazardous chemicals know to be present using the chemical or
common name that appears on the appropriate material safety data sheet;
(3) identify the methods used to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks and those
hazards associated with chemicals in unlabeled pipes in their work areas; and
(4) describe methods used to inform any contractor with employees in the workplace of
hazards that may be exposed to and appropriate protective measures.
The written hazard communication program must be made available upon request to employees;
designated employee representatives; and authorized representatives of the North Carolina Commissioner of
Labor.
This guide is provided to assist employers in developing a written hazard communication program
that meets the requirements of paragraph (e) of the standard. Although this guide does not address the
specific circumstances in each workplace, it can be adapted to meet the needs of most employers. Advice and
assistance in preparing the written program is available from the Bureau of Consultative Services, Division
of Occupational Safety and Health, North Carolina Department of Labor, 1101 Mail Service Center, Raleigh,
NC 27699-1101, (919) 807-2899.
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________________________________________
Company Name
I.
II.
III. A list of all hazardous chemicals for each workplace has been made and is readily available,
upon request, to any employee, working on any shift. It is located at
__________________________________________________.
IV. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each hazardous chemical on the list referenced
above is on file at _____________________________________.
The MSDS for any hazardous chemical is readily available for review by any employee
upon request, through their immediate supervisor.
V.
VI.
identity of the chemical (same as on the applicable MSDS), and the appropriate hazard
warnings. If the chemical is a known or suspected cancer causing agent (carcinogen), or if
it is known to affect a specific organ of the body, this information will also be placed on
the container label. The person having supervisory responsibility for the storage or use of
each hazardous chemical will ensure that such labels are not defaced and that they remain
legible at all times.
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VIII. When an outside contractor will be used, it will be the responsibility of _______________
to advise the contractor of any hazardous chemicals to which their employees may be
exposed and the appropriate protective measures to be taken. Conversely, it will be the
same persons responsibility to determine if the contractor will be using any hazardous
chemicals during this work that would expose ________________________employees.
Appropriate training and protective measures must be taken in order to protect
employees. _____________________ is to be advised prior to any work being performed
by an outside contractor involving hazardous chemicals.
IX.
All employees exposed to any hazardous chemicals will complete an information and
training program which includes at least the subjects listed below. New employees must
complete similar instruction before initial exposure to any hazardous chemical in the
workplace.
Adequate training of all employees exposed to hazardous chemicals will be given by
______________
assisted as needed by the Hazard
Communication Program Monitor.
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The purpose and need for such a program, including the basic concept that gives
every employee the right to know about hazardous chemicals with which they work.
(2)
The location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program, plus the
list of hazardous chemicals and their corresponding MSDSs.
(3)
The identity upon request, of any chemical to which the employee is exposed. In the
case of a trade secret chemical, the name shown on the MSDS will be provided.
X.
(1)
(2)
The physical and health hazards associated with each chemical, as specified in the
MSDS.
(3)
Action that employees can take to protect their own safety and health, including
specific procedures that have been established for normal work practices, emergency
procedures, and policies on the use of personal protective equipment.
(4)
It is the intent of
management to protect the safety and
health of each employee, our most valuable and valued asset. By following correct
procedures, no employee should experience any harmful effects from working with
chemicals in their workplace.
YES
NO
TRAINING ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I have received information on the Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200/1926.59
and understand how to interpret and to use the labeling systems and Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDSs) that are in use and accessible to me in my work area. I agree to observe and follow the
safe work practices as presented to me in the training sessions I attended on
_____
at
_____________________.
Employee Signature
Date
Supervisor
Date
conditions.
SECTION VI
Health Hazard DataPossible health hazards as derived from human observation, animal
studies or from the results of studies with similar products.
Threshold Limit Value (TLV)The value for airborne toxic material that are to be used as
guides in the control of health hazards and represent concentrations to which nearly all workers
may be exposed eight hours per day over extended periods of time without adverse effects.
Effects of OverexposureThe effects on or to an individual who has been exposed beyond the
specified limits.
Emergency and First-Aid ProceduresGives first-aid and emergency procedures in case of
eye and/or skin contact, ingestion and inhalation.
SECTION VII
StabilityWhether the substance is stable or unstable, an unstable substance is one that will
vigorously polymerize, decompose, condense, or will become self-reactive under conditions of
shock, pressure, or temperature.
A copy of the form you may want to use to list your hazardous substances by work area follows
this page. This information would be based on the initial survey and subsequent hazard
determination.
SECTION VIII
Spill or Leak ProceduresSteps to be taken if material is released or spilled. Method and
materials to use to clean up or contain.
Waste Disposal MethodMethod and type of disposal site to use.
SECTION IX
Special Protection Information
Respiratory ProtectionSpecific type should be specified, i.e., dust mask, NIOSH-approved
cartridge respirator with organic-vapor cartridge.
VentilationType of ventilation recommended, i.e., local exhaust, mechanical, etc.
Protective GlovesRefers to the glove that should be worn when handling the product, i.e.,
cotton, rubber.
Eye ProtectionRefers to the type of eye protection that is to be worn when handling or around
the product.
Flammable LimitsThe range of gas or vapor concentration (percent by volume in air) that
will burn or explode if an ignition source is present. (Lel) means the lower explosive limits and
(Uel) the upper explosive limits given in percent.
Extinguishing MediaSpecifies the fire-fighting agent(s) that should be used to extinguish
fires.
Special Fire-Fighting Procedures/Unusual Fire and Explosion HazardsRefer to special
procedures required if unusual fire or explosion hazards are involved.
Chemical Identity/Name
Location
Vendor or Mfr.