The ZP Construction Safety Policy
These practices for safety and health programs for construction worksites are recommendations only. Employers in construction work must have a program that includes measures to detect and correct workplace hazards. However, their program may not contain all of the practices recommended in this document. Employers will not be cited if their safety and health program does not comply with this document.
Resources and Tools to Support Implementation of These Recommended Practices
OSHA has created a dedicated Web page to support the implementation of these practices at www.osha.gov. The page includes a link to these recommended practices as well as the following:
1. ALWAYS SET SAFETY AND HEALTH AS THE TOP PRIORITY
Tell your workers that making sure they finish the day and go home safely is the way you do business. Assure them that you will work with them to find and f ix any hazards that could injure them or make them sick.
2. LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Practice safe behaviors yourself and make safety part of your daily conversations with workers.
3. IMPLEMENT A REPORTING SYSTEM
Develop and communicate a simple procedure for workers to report any injuries, illnesses, incidents (including near misses/close calls), hazards, or safety and health concerns without fear of retaliation. Include an option for reporting hazards or concerns anonymously.
4. PROVIDE TRAINING
Train workers on how to identify and control hazards using, for example, OSHA’s Hazard Identification Training Tool.
5. CONDUCT INSPECTIONS
Inspect the job site with workers and ask them to identify any activity, piece of equipment, or material that concerns them. Use checklists and other resources, such as OSHA’s Construction Industry Digest, to help identify problems.
6. COLLECT HAZARD CONTROL IDEAS
Talk with workers about ideas on safety improvements throughout the project.
7. IMPLEMENT HAZARD CONTROLS
Assign workers the task of choosing, implementing, and evaluating the solutions.
8. ADDRESS EMERGENCIES
Identify foreseeable emergency scenarios and develop instructions on what to do in each case. Meet to discuss these procedures and post them in a visible location at the job site.
9. MAKE IMPROVEMENTS
Set aside a regular time to discuss safety and health issues, with the goal of identifying ways to improve the program.
10. OSHA
Read more on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.