OSHA INSPECTION TIPS 

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PASSING AN OSHA INSPECTION

This document is not meant for training purposes.  Statements are based on OSHA regulations. Associated Builders and Contractors shall not be held liable for any damages, injury, or loss of life due to this information.  This document was intended for our member companies to use as a guide regarding the most frequently cited items by our local area OSHA offices and to assist our members by creating a safe place for all employees to work.

ABC offers several training courses throughout the year and will gladly do safety training at your facility and at times that work for you.  We also offer safety consulting for our member companies.  If you would like more information or how to reach our  Safety Director:  

Please call                                                                 

Lincoln office: 402-477-4451 or                                                                    
Omaha office:  402-344-4258

                                                                   


                                                                                                        



ALL TRADES: 

Always have your company written safety and health programs on site along with your company MSDS.  Conduct documented safety inspections of your work sites. Knowledge is key: know the regulations and you will gain a great deal of confidence when OSHA is at your obsite.  TRAIN YOUR EMPLOYEES!                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                               

Extension cords:  

1.     no ground plugs missing

2.     cords running through doors or windows need pinch protection

3.     no cuts or insulation missing

4.     no splices (unless 12 gage or larger and properly repaired)

5.     not hung by nails or staples

6.     GFCI in use (unless provided by a GFCI outlet)

7.     not being ran over by any vehicles or equipment (unless protected)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                             

                        




                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                     


Ladders:     
1.     Must be in good condition (steps, side rails)                                                                                           
2.     Do not stand on the back braces of the step ladder                                            

3.     Do not stand on the top step of the step ladder

4.     Never use a step ladder by folding and leaning against a structure

5.     Extension ladders must be used at the 4 to 1 rule

6.     For roof access, extension ladders must extend 3’ higher than the exit point (3 rungs) and the ladder secured

7.     Hand rails and/ or stair rails must be installed for stairs of 4 or more risers or a change in elevation of 30”

8.     Ladders or some form of access must be provided for a change in elevation of 19” or greater (with a few exceptions)


                                                                                                                                             



PPE:

1.   Wear hard hats if an overhead hazards exist and wear them properly (not backwards, this will draw attention to lack of training on PPE)

2.     Use eye protection when necessary:  ANSI approved safety glasses for any task that could cause eye injuries.  A face shield over the safety glasses when cutting metal.  Proper welding shields as per the task.

3.     No tennis style shoes, work boots or work shoes                                     

4.     Use hearing protection
                                                        

5.     Use a respirator when necessary, don’t assume a dust mask is proper protection for all exposures

                                                                                                                                            

**If you are working in an area with ladders, scaffold, or lifts—make sure there are no slip, trip, or fall hazards as this is citable.  Housekeeping is also extremely important to preventing injuries.**

                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

 

ELECTRICIANS:                                                                                                                      

·        Panel schedules must be complete and legible throughout all phases of the job site.  “Spare” for any circuits without a destination

·        All knock outs must be in place and bushings / proper clamps for wires entering the panels

·        Perform (at a minimum) weekly GFCI reports                                                                                                

·        Strain relief on cords /  wires into panels / boxes

·        Temp light bulbs must have a cage

·        Temp lights must not be in contact with any metal (door frames, pipes, duct, etc). 

·        Suspend temp light wires with non-conductive materials

·        Outlets must have a cover.  If de-energized, but the wiring is connected to an energized panel, the breaker or panel must be locked out to prevent unauthorized persons from turning on.

·        If performing energized work, NFPA 70E guidelines must be followed (arc flash gear and proper testing procedures)

·        Have LOTO gear available and use it when necessary

·        Use fall protection or positioning system (lanyard / retractable/ harness) when in an aerial lift or boom truck basket!!

·        If you are working in areas of public access (streets, parking lots, etc) make sure to wear high visibility clothing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                    

                                   

 

                  


 

PLUMBERS /  WELDERS:            

·        Keep a fire extinguisher nearby when cutting / welding

·        No repairs in hose within 10’ from ends

·        Cylinders must be secured upright

·        Caps must be on cylinders, unless used within 24hrs

·        Oxygen cylinders must be 20’ from other flammables or separated by a material with ½ hour fire rating

 

DRYWALL / FINISH TRADES:

·        No power strips are allowed to be used

·        Cords, cords, cords!!  OSHA does not state you can’t have a 14 or 16 gage cord on a jobsite, but you can’t repair the cord if is not 12 gage or larger

·        Power tool cords cannot be fixed / spliced / repaired.  You must have a qualified repair center replace the cord on tools

·        Do not stand on the guard rails of the scissor or aerial lifts.  The gate chain / bar must be in place.

 

 

 

 

STEEL / IRON WORKERS:                       

·        Many of the OSHA citations for steel erectors pertain to fall protection, welding, and ladder use (see those sections)

·        Fall protection at heights over 15’ for connector, must have available to use but only mandatory at heights over 30’.  Exemptions when decking as well, up to 30’. Fall protection, positioning  / restraint in aerial lifts

·        New OSHA requirements for qualified riggers and signal persons to be certified     


                                                                                                                               

                                                                                             


 

CONCRETE WORKERS:                

·        Use proper PPE when necessary.  Wear gloves and boots when exposed to concrete. 

·        Wear hard hats when around the pump trucks.

·        A respirator may be necessary, dust mask might not be sufficient.

·        Look out for power lines when using the trowel or other long handled tools.

·        Be properly trained on the hazards of silica, Portland cement, and know where your company MSDS are located.

·        Proper rebar caps must be in place to prevent impalement hazard.  These caps must withstand a 250 pound weight dropped from 7’6" without the rebar breaking through

       

This has a steel plate to prevent impalement

 

 

 

These do not!          




SCAFFOLD BASICS:  (#1 most frequently cited by OSHA in 2010)

·        Base plates and mudsills

·        Don’t climb the cross braces

·        Access needs provided for heights over 2’ (properly used ladders or manufacturer’s built in frame ladder)

·        Scaffold can only be 4 times as high as width of the base (including outriggers)

·        Working surface must be fully planked, overlapping planks over end frames, no gaps greater than 1” (unless making turns)

·        Fall protection at heights over 10’.  Mid and top rails must be in place—including end rails, or tie off to an approved anchor point.

·        Wheels (if used) must be locked.

·        Use proper pins for scaffold, not tape or low grade bolts where pins are missing.

·        Use manufactured planks or scaffold grade lumber planks. 

·        A competent person needs to do frequent / daily inspection of the scaffold.

·        If the scaffold is incomplete or does not meet regulations, tag it “DO NOT USE”.

 

 

 

 

FALL PROTECTION BASICS:   (#2 most frequent cited by OSHA in 2010)

·        Required at heights in construction above 6’ (vertical and horizontal).  Exceptions for scaffold and steel erectors.

·        Guard rails required at 21” and 42”.  If you are on a ladder or stilts, the guard rails need adjusted.

·        Do not be on a roof without some form of fall protection.

·        Be trained on the various methods of fall protection.  If you are using a harness, rope grab, retractable, monitoring system, warning lines, controlled access zone—make sure everyone has been trained on their usage and understands how each works.

·        Anchor point must be rated for 5,000 lbs or 2X the arresting force of your fall arrest system (lanyards, etc)

·        Flags (caution materials) must be on cable guard rail every 6’.

·        Holes need to be covered with materials that will withstand 2times the amount of weight that will be on placed on the cover.   

·        Label the cover with “HOLE”  or “COVER”

·        OSHA considers a hole to be anything greater than 2” in diameter because a tool or other material could fall onto a worker below the hole.

 

 

 

 

EXCAVATIONS:                  

·        Access needed at depths greater than 4’.  If using ladders, place one every 25’.

·        Competent person inspection of trench required.

·        Protective system in use at depths greater than 5’ (if not required at lesser depths as determined by competent person).  Benching, sloping, shoring must be used.

·        Always wear hard hats in trenches / excavations.

·        Spoil pile must be 2’ back (or more) from the side of the trench.

·        Precautions (monitoring) should be taken when working near streets or where possibility of carbon monoxide or other harmful atmospheres hazards might exist (near streets or running equipment.  Trenches can be classified as confined spaces.

·        Train employees on the hazards associated with trenches and excavations and how to identify those hazards prior to entry.

 

NOT THIS!

 

TOOLS:         

·        Use a tool as it was intended ( a screwdriver is not a chisel)

·        Make sure all tool guards are in place and functional (saws, grinders)

·        Do not leave a drill bit, blade, or load strips in tools when they are unattended.

·        If a tool needs repaired, tag it “out of service”

 

 

 


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