Training Requirements in OSHA
Construction Industry Standards and Training Guidelines
Construction Safety and Health
Outreach Program
U.S. Department of Labor
OSHA Office of Training and Education
May 1996
OSHA Office of Training and Education
- 1996
This informational discussion is intended to provide a
generic, non-exhaustive overview of a particular
standards-related topic. This discussion does not itself
alter or determine compliance responsibilities, which
are set forth in OSHA standards themselves, and in the
Occupational Safety and Health Act
of 1970. Moreover, because interpretations and
enforcement policy may change over time, for additional
guidance on OSHA compliance requirements, the reader
should consult current administrative interpretations
and decisions by the Occupational Safety and Health
Review Commission and the courts.
Introduction
Many standards promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) explicitly require the employer to train
employees in the safety and health aspects of their jobs. Other
OSHA standards make it the employer's responsibility to limit
certain job assignments to employees who are "certified,"
"competent," or "qualified"-meaning that they have had special
previous training, in or out of the workplace. The term
"designated" personnel means selected or assigned by the
employer or the employer's representative as being qualified to
perform specific duties. These requirements reflect OSHA's
belief that training is an essential part of every employer's
safety and health program for protecting workers from injuries
and illnesses. Many researchers conclude that those who are new
on the job have a higher rate of accidents and injuries than
more experienced workers. If ignorance of specific job hazards
and of proper work practices is even partly to blame for this
higher injury rate, then training will help to provide a
solution.
As an example of the trend in OSHA safety and health training
requirements, the Process Safety Management
of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard (Title 29 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 1926.64) contains several training
requirements. This standard was promulgated under the
requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The
Process Safety Management Standard requires the employer to
evaluate or verify that employees comprehend the training given
to them. This means that the training to be given must have
established goals and objectives regarding what is to be
accomplished. Subsequent to the training, an evaluation would be
conducted to verify that the employees understood the subjects
presented or acquired the desired skills. If the established
goals and objectives of the training program were not achieved
as expected, the employer then would revise the training program
to make it more effective, or conduct more frequent refresher
training or some combination of these. The requirements of the
Process Safety Management Standard follow the concepts embodied
in the OSHA training guidelines contained in this discussion.
The length and complexity of OSHA standards may make it
difficult to find all the references to training. So, to help
employers, safety and health professionals, training directors,
and others with a need to know, OSHA's training-related
requirements have been excerpted and collected in this
discussion. Requirements for posting information, warning signs,
labels, and the like are excluded, as are most references to the
qualifications of people assigned to test workplace conditions
or equipment.
It is usually a good idea for the employer to keep a record of
all safety and health training. Records can provide evidence of
the employer's good faith and compliance with OSHA standards.
Documentation can also supply an answer to one of the first
questions an accident investigator will ask: "Was the injured
employee trained to do the job?"
Training in the proper performance of a job is time and money
well spent, and the employer might regard it as an investment
rather than an expense. An effective program of safety and
health training for workers can result in fewer injuries and
illnesses, better morale, and lower insurance premiums, among
other benefits.
Voluntary Training Guidelines
INTRODUCTION
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970 does not address specifically the responsibility of
employers to provide health and safety information and
instruction to employees, although Section 5(a)(2) does require
that each employer " . . . shall comply with occupational safety
and health standards promulgated under this Act." However, more
than 100 of the Act's current standards do contain training
requirements.
Therefore, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has
developed voluntary training guidelines to assist employers in
providing the safety and health information and instruction
needed for their employees to work at minimal risk to
themselves, to fellow employees, and to the public.
The guidelines are designed to help employers to: (1) determine
whether a worksite problem can be solved by training; (2)
determine what training, if any, is needed; (3) identify goals
and objectives for the training; (4) design learning activities;
(5) conduct training; (6) determine the effectiveness of the
training; and (7) revise the training program based on feedback
from employees, supervisors, and others.
The development of the guidelines is part of an agency-wide
objective to encourage cooperative, voluntary safety and health
activities among OSHA, the business community, and workers.
These voluntary programs include training and education,
consultation, voluntary protection programs, and abatement
assistance.
Training Model
The guidelines provide employers with a model for designing,
conducting, evaluating, and revising training programs. The
training model can be used to develop training programs for a
variety of occupational safety and health hazards identified at
the workplace. Additionally, it can assist employers in their
efforts to meet the training requirements in current or future
occupational safety and health standards.
A training program designed in accordance with these guidelines
can be used to supplement and enhance the employer's other
education and training activities. The guidelines afford
employers significant flexibility in the selection of content
and training program design. OSHA encourages a personalized
approach to the informational and instructional programs at
individual worksites, thereby enabling employers to provide the
training that is most needed and applicable to local working
conditions.
Assistance with training programs or the identification of
resources for training is available through such organizations
as OSHA full-service Area Offices, State agencies which have
their own OSHA-approved occupational safety and health programs,
OSHA-funded State on-site consultation programs for employers,
local safety councils, the OSHA Office of Training and
Education, and OSHA-funded New Directions grantees.
Review Commission Implications
OSHA does not intend to make the guidelines mandatory. And they
should not be used by employers as a total or complete guide in
training and education matters which can result in enforcement
proceedings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review
Commission. However, employee training programs are always an
issue in Review Commission cases which involve alleged
violations of training requirements contained in OSHA standards.
The adequacy of employee training may also become an issue in
contested cases where the affirmative defense of unpreventable
employee misconduct is raised. Under case law well-established
in the Commission and the courts, an employer may successfully
defend against an otherwise valid citation by demonstrating that
all feasible steps were taken to avoid the occurrence of the
hazard, and that actions of the employee involved in the
violation were a departure from a uniformly and effectively
enforced work rule of which the employee had either actual or
constructive knowledge.
In either type of case, the adequacy of the training given to
employees in connection with a specific hazard is a factual
matter which can be decided only by considering all the facts
and circumstances surrounding the alleged violation. The general
guidelines in this publication are not intended, and
cannot be used, as evidence of the appropriate level of training
in litigation involving either the training requirements of OSHA
standards or affirmative defenses based upon employer training
programs.
TRAINING GUIDELINES
OSHA's training guidelines follow a model that consists of:
Determining if Training is Needed
Identifying Training Needs
Identifying Goals and Objectives
Developing Learning Activities
Conducting the Training
Evaluating Program Effectiveness
Improving the Program
The model is designed to be one that even
the owner of a business with very few employees can use without
having to hire a professional trainer or purchase expensive
training materials. Using this model, employers or supervisors
can develop and administer safety and health training programs
that address problems specific to their own business, fulfill
the learning needs of their own employees, and strengthen the
overall safety and health program of the workplace.
Determining If Training is Needed
The first step in the training process is a basic one to
determine whether a problem can be solved by training. Whenever
employees are not performing their jobs properly, it is often
assumed that training will bring them up to standard. However,
it is possible that other actions (such as hazard abatement or
the implementation of engineering controls) would enable
employees to perform their jobs properly.
Ideally, safety and health training should be provided before
problems or accidents occur. This training would cover both
general safety and health rules and work procedures, and would
be repeated if an accident or near-miss incident occurred.
Problems that can be addressed effectively by training include
those that arise from lack of knowledge of a work process,
unfamiliarity with equipment, or incorrect execution of a task.
Training is less effective (but still can be used) for problems
arising from an employee's lack of motivation or lack of
attention to the job. Whatever its purpose, training is most
effective when designed in relation to the goals of the
employer's total safety and health program.
Identifying Training Needs
If the problem is one that can be solved, in whole or in part,
by training, then the next step is to determine what training is
needed. For this, it is necessary to identify what the employee
is expected to do and in what ways, if any, the employee's
performance is deficient. This information can be obtained by
conducting a job analysis which pinpoints what an employee needs
to know in order to perform a job.
When designing a new training program, or preparing to instruct
an employee in an unfamiliar procedure or system, a job analysis
can be developed by examining engineering data on new equipment
or the safety data sheets on unfamiliar substances. The content
of the specific Federal or State OSHA standards applicable to a
business can also provide direction in developing training
content. Another option is to conduct a Job Hazard Analysis.
This is a procedure for studying and recording each step of a
job, identifying existing or potential hazards, and determining
the best way to perform the job in order to reduce or eliminate
the risks. Information obtained from a Job Hazard Analysis can
be used as the content for the training activity.
If an employer's learning needs can be met by revising an
existing training program rather than developing a new one, or
if the employer already has some knowledge of the process or
system to be used, appropriate training content can be developed
through such means as:
Using company accident and injury records to identify
how accidents occur and what can be done to prevent them
from recurring.
Requesting employees to provide, in writing and in their
own words, descriptions of their jobs. These should include
the tasks performed and the tools, materials and equipment
used.
Observing employees at the worksite as they perform
tasks, asking about the work, and recording their answers.
Examining similar training programs offered by other
companies in the same industry, or obtaining suggestions
from such organizations as the National Safety Council
(which can provide information on Job Hazard Analysis), the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, OSHA-approved State programs,
OSHA full-service Area Offices, OSHA-funded State
consultation programs, or the OSHA Office of Training and
Education.
The employees themselves can provide
valuable information on the training they need. Safety and
health hazards can be identified through the employees'
responses to such questions as whether anything about their jobs
frightens them, if they have had any near-miss incidents, if
they feel they are taking risks, or if they believe that their
jobs involve hazardous operations or substances.
Once the kind of training that is needed has been determined, it
is equally important to determine what kind of training is
not needed. Employees should be made
aware of all the steps involved in a task or procedure, but
training should focus on those steps on which improved
performance is needed. This avoids unnecessary training and
tailors the training to meet the needs of the employees.
Identifying Goals and Objectives
Once the employees' training needs have been identified,
employers can then prepare objectives for the training.
Instructional objectives, if clearly stated, will tell employers
what they want their employees to do, to do better, or to stop
doing.
Learning objectives do not necessarily have to be written, but
in order for the training to be as successful as possible, clear
and measurable objectives should be thought-out before the
training begins. For an objective to be effective it should
identify as precisely as possible what the individuals will do
to demonstrate that they have learned, or that the objective has
been reached. They should also describe the important conditions
under which the individual will demonstrate competence and
define what constitutes acceptable performance.
Using specific, action-oriented language, the instructional
objectives should describe the preferred practice or skill and
its observable behavior. For example, rather than using the
statement: "The employee will understand how to use a
respirator" as an instructional objective, it would be better to
say: "The employee will be able to describe how a respirator
works and when it should be used." Objectives are most effective
when worded in sufficient detail that other qualified persons
can recognize when the desired behavior is exhibited.
Developing Learning Activities
Once employers have stated precisely what the objectives for the
training program are, then learning activities can be identified
and described. Learning activities enable employees to
demonstrate that they have acquired the desired skills and
knowledge. To ensure that employees transfer the skills or
knowledge from the learning activity to the job, the learning
situation should simulate the actual job as closely as possible.
Thus, employers may want to arrange the objectives and
activities in a sequence which corresponds to the order in which
the tasks are to be performed on the job, if a specific process
is to be learned. For instance, if an employee must learn the
beginning processes of using a machine, the sequence might be:
(1) to check that the power source is connected; (2) to ensure
that the safety devices are in place and are operative; (3) to
know when and how to throw the switch; and so on.
A few factors will help to determine the type of learning
activity to be incorporated into the training. One aspect is the
training resources available to the employer. Can a group
training program that uses an outside trainer and film be
organized, or should the employer personally train the employees
on a one-to-one basis? Another factor is the kind of skills or
knowledge to be learned. Is the learning oriented toward
physical skills (such as the use of special tools) or toward
mental processes and attitudes? Such factors will influence the
type of learning activity designed by employers. The training
activity can be group-oriented, with lectures, role play, and
demonstrations; or designed for the individual as with
self-paced instruction.
The determination of methods and materials for the learning
activity can be as varied as the employer's imagination and
available resources will allow. The employer may want to use
charts, diagrams, manuals, slides, films, viewgraphs (overhead
transparencies), videotapes, audiotapes, or simply blackboard
and chalk, or any combination of these and other instructional
aids. Whatever the method of instruction, the learning
activities should be developed in such a way that the employees
can clearly demonstrate that they have acquired the desired
skills or knowledge.
Conducting the Training
With the completion of the steps outlined above, the employer is
ready to begin conducting the training. To the extent possible,
the training should be presented so that its organization and
meaning are clear to the employees. To do so, employers or
supervisors should: (1) provide overviews of the material to be
learned; (2) relate, wherever possible, the new information or
skills to the employee's goals, interests, or experience; and
(3) reinforce what the employees learned by summarizing the
program's objectives and the key points of information covered.
These steps will assist employers in presenting the training in
a clear, unambiguous manner.
In addition to organizing the content, employers must also
develop the structure and format of the training. The content
developed for the program, the nature of the workplace or other
training site, and the resources available for training will
help employers determine for themselves the frequency of
training activities, the length of the sessions, the
instructional techniques, and the individual(s)
best qualified to present the information.
In order to be motivated to pay attention and learn the material
that the employer or supervisor is presenting, employees must be
convinced of the importance and relevance of the material. Among
the ways of developing motivation are: (1) explaining the goals
and objectives of instruction; (2) relating the training to the
interests, skills, and experiences of the employees; (3)
outlining the main points to be presented during the training
session(s); and (4) pointing out the benefits of training (e.g.,
the employee will be better informed, more skilled, and thus
more valuable both on the job and on the labor market; or the
employee will, if he or she applies the skills and knowledge
learned, be able to work at reduced risk).
An effective training program allows employees to participate in
the training process and to practice their skills or knowledge.
This will help to ensure that they are learning the required
knowledge or skills and permit correction if necessary.
Employees can become involved in the training process by
participating in discussions, asking questions, contributing
their knowledge and expertise, learning through hands-on
experiences, and through role-playing exercises.
Evaluating Program Effectiveness
To make sure that the training program is accomplishing its
goals, an evaluation of the training can be valuable. Training
should have, as one of its critical components, a method of
measuring the effectiveness of the training. A plan for
evaluating the training session(s), either written or
thought-out by the employer, should be developed when the course
objectives and content are developed. It should not be delayed
until the training has been completed. Evaluation will help
employers or supervisors determine the amount of learning
achieved and whether an employee's performance has improved on
the job. Among the methods of evaluating training are:
(1) Student opinion. Questionnaires or informal
discussions with employees can help employers determine the
relevance and appropriateness of the training program;
(2) Supervisors' observations.
Supervisors are in good positions to observe an employee's
performance both before and after the training and note
improvements or changes; and (3) Workplace
improvements. The ultimate success of a training program
may be changes throughout the workplace that result in reduced
injury or accident rates.
However it is conducted, an evaluation of training can give
employers the information necessary to decide whether or not the
employees achieved the desired results, and whether the training
session should be offered again at some future date.
Improving the Program
If, after evaluation, it is clear that the training did not give
the employees the level of knowledge and skill that was
expected, then it may be necessary to revise the training
program or provide periodic retraining. At this point, asking
questions of employees and of those who conducted the training
may be of some help. Among the questions that could be asked
are: (1) Were parts of the content already known and, therefore,
unnecessary? (2) What material was confusing or distracting? (3)
Was anything missing from the program? (4) What did the
employees learn, and what did they fail to learn?
It may be necessary to repeat steps in the training process,
that is, to return to the first steps and retrace one's way
through the training process. As the program is evaluated, the
employer should ask: (1) If a job analysis was conducted, was it
accurate? (2) Was any critical feature of the job overlooked?
(3) Were the important gaps in knowledge and skill included? (4)
Was material already known by the employees intentionally
omitted? (5) Were the instructional objectives presented clearly
and concretely? (6) Did the objectives state the level of
acceptable performance that was expected of employees? (7) Did
the learning activity simulate the actual job? (8) Was the
learning activity appropriate for the kinds of knowledge and
skills required on the job? (9) When the training was presented,
was the organization of the material and its meaning made clear?
(10) Were the employees motivated to learn? (11) Were the
employees allowed to participate actively in the training
process? (12) Was the employer's evaluation of the program
thorough?
A critical examination of the steps in the training process will
help employers to determine where course revision is necessary.
MATCHING TRAINING TO EMPLOYEES
While all employees are entitled to know as much as possible
about the safety and health hazards to which they are exposed,
and employers should attempt to provide all relevant information
and instruction to all employees, the resources for such an
effort frequently are not, or are not believed to be, available.
Thus, employers are often faced with the problem of deciding who
is in the greatest need of information and instruction.
One way to differentiate between employees who have priority
needs for training and those who do not is to identify employee
populations which are at higher levels of risk. The nature of
the work will provide an indication that such groups should
receive priority for information on occupational safety and
health risks.
Identifying Employees at Risk
One method of identifying employee populations at high levels of
occupational risk (and thus in greater need of safety and health
training) is to pinpoint hazardous occupations. Even within
industries which are hazardous in general, there are some
employees who operate at greater risk than others. In other
cases the hazardousness of an occupation is influenced by the
conditions under which it is performed, such as noise, heat or
cold, or safety or health hazards in the surrounding area. In
these situations, employees should be trained not only on how to
perform their job safely but also on how to operate within a
hazardous environment.
A second method of identifying employee populations at high
levels of risk is to examine the incidence of accidents and
injuries, both within the company and within the industry. If
employees in certain occupational categories are experiencing
higher accident and injury rates than other employees, training
may be one way to reduce that rate. In addition, thorough
accident investigation
can identify not only specific employees who could benefit from
training but also identify company-wide training needs.
Research has identified the following variables as being related
to a disproportionate share of injuries and illnesses at the
worksite on the part of employees:
The age of the employee (younger employees have higher
incidence rates).
The length of time on the job (new employees have higher
incidence rates).
The size of the firm (in general terms, medium-size
firms have higher incidence rates than smaller or larger
firms).
The type of work performed (incidence and severity rates
vary significantly by SIC Code).
The use of hazardous substances (by SIC Code).
These variables should be considered when
identifying employee groups for training in occupational safety
and health. In summary, information is readily available to help
employers identify which employees should receive safety and
health information, education and training, and who should
receive it before others. Employers can request assistance in
obtaining information by contacting such organizations as OSHA
Area Offices, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, OSHA-approved
State programs, State onsite consultation programs, the OSHA
Office of Training and Education, or local safety councils.
Training Employees at Risk
Determining the content of training for employee populations at
higher levels of risk is similar to determining what any
employee needs to know, but more emphasis is placed on the
requirements of the job and the possibility of injury. One
useful tool for determining training content from job
requirements is the Job Hazard Analysis described earlier. This
procedure examines each step of a job, identifies existing or
potential hazards, and determines the best way to perform the
job in order to reduce or eliminate the hazards. Its key
elements are: (1) job description; (2) job location; (3) key
steps (preferably in the order in which they are performed); (4)
tools, machines and materials used; (5) actual and potential
safety and health hazards associated with these key job steps;
and (6) safe and healthful practices, apparel, and equipment
required for each job step.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) can also provide information
for training employees in the safe use of materials. These data
sheets, developed by chemical manufacturers and importers, are
supplied with manufacturing or construction materials and
describe the ingredients of a product, its hazards, protective
equipment to be used, safe handling procedures, and emergency
first-aid responses. The information contained in these sheets
can help employers identify employees in need of training (i.e.,
workers handling substances described in the sheets) and train
employees in safe use of the substances. Material Safety Data
Sheets are generally available from suppliers, manufacturers of
the substance, large employers who use the substance on a
regular basis, or they can be developed by employers or trade
associations. MSDS are particularly useful for those employers
who are developing training on chemical use as required by
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard.
CONCLUSION
In an attempt to assist employers with their occupational health
and safety training activities, OSHA has developed a set of
training guidelines in the form of a model. This model is
designed to help employers develop instructional programs as
part of their total education and training effort. The model
addresses the questions of who should be trained, on what
topics, and for what purposes. It also helps employers determine
how effective the program has been and enables them to identify
employees who are in greatest need of education and training.
The model is general enough to be used in any area of
occupational safety and health training, and allows employers to
determine for themselves the content and format of training. Use
of this model in training activities is just one of many ways
that employers can comply with the OSHA standards that relate to
training and enhance the safety and health of their employees.
The following
training requirements have been excerpted from Title 29,
Code of Federal Regulations Part 1926. Note that in addition
to these requirements, Part 1910, relating to general
industry, also contains applicable training standards.
(2) Such programs [as may be necessary
to comply with this part] shall provide for frequent and regular
inspections of the job sites, materials, and equipment to be
made by competent persons [capable of identifying existing and
predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions
which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and
who have authorization to take prompt corrective measures to
eliminate them designated by the employers.]
(4) The employer shall permit only
those employees qualified [one who, by possession of a
recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who
by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has
successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve
problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the
project] by training or experience to operate equipment and
machinery.
(a) General requirements.
The Secretary shall, pursuant to section 107(f) of the Act,
establish and supervise programs for the education and training
of employers and employees in the recognition, avoidance and
prevention of unsafe conditions in employments covered by the
Act.
1926.21(b)(1) through (6)(i) and (ii)
(1) The employer should avail himself
of the safety and health training programs the Secretary
provides.
(2) The employer shall instruct each
employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions
and the regulations applicable to his work environment to
control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or
injury.
(3) Employees required to handle or
use poisons, caustics, and other harmful substances shall be
instructed regarding their safe handling and use, and be made
aware of the potential hazards, personal hygiene, and personal
protective measures required.
(4) In job site areas where harmful
plants or animals are present, employees who may be exposed
shall be instructed regarding the potential hazards and how to
avoid injury, and the first aid procedures to be used in the
event of injury.
(5) Employees required to handle or
use flammable liquids, gases, or toxic materials shall be
instructed in the safe handling and use of these materials and
made aware of the specific requirements contained in Subparts D,
F, and other applicable subparts of this part.
(6)(i) All employees required to enter
into confined or enclosed spaces shall be instructed as to the
nature of the hazards involved, the necessary precautions to be
taken, and in the use of protective and emergency equipment
required. The employer shall comply with any specific
regulations that apply to work in dangerous or potentially
dangerous areas.
(ii) For purposes of subdivision
(i) of this subparagraph, "confined or
enclosed space" means any space having a limited means of
egress, which is subject to the accumulation of toxic or
flammable contaminants or has an oxygen deficient atmosphere.
Confined or enclosed spaces include, but are not limited to,
storage tanks, process vessels, bins, boilers, ventilation or
exhaust ducts, sewers, underground utility vaults, tunnels,
pipelines, and open top spaces more than 4 feet in depth such as
pits, tubs, vaults, and vessels.
(c) In the absence of an infirmary,
clinic, hospital, or physician that is reasonably accessible in
terms of time and distance to the worksite which is available
for the treatment of injured employees, a person who has a valid
certificate in first-aid training from the U.S. Bureau of Mines,
the American Red Cross, or equivalent training that can be
verified by documentary evidence, shall be available at the
worksite to render first aid.
(b) Any activity which involves the
use of radioactive materials or X-rays, whether or not under
license from the Atomic Energy Commission [Nuclear Regulatory
Commission] shall be performed by competent persons specially
trained in the proper and safe operation of such equipment. In
the case of materials used under Commission license, only
persons actually licensed, or competent persons under the
direction and supervision of the licensee, shall perform such
work.
(b) To achieve compliance with
paragraph (a) of this section,
administrative or engineering controls must first be implemented
whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to
achieve full compliance, protective equipment or other
protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of
employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in
this section. Any equipment and technical measures used for this
purpose must first be approved for each particular use by a
competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified
person. Whenever respirators are used, their use shall comply
with § 1926.103.
1926.58(k)(3)(i) through (iii) (A) through
(E) and (4)(i) and (ii)
(i) The employer shall institute a
training program for all employees exposed to airborne
concentrations of asbestos, in excess of the action level and/or
excursion limit and shall ensure their participation in the
program.
(ii) Training shall be provided prior
to or at the time of initial assignment (unless the employee has
received equivalent training within the previous 12 months) and
at least annually thereafter.
(iii) The training program shall be
conducted in a manner that the employee is able to understand.
The employer shall ensure that each such employee is informed of
the following:
(A) Methods of recognizing asbestos;
(B) The health effects associated with
asbestos exposure;
(C) The relationship between smoking
and asbestos in producing lung cancer;
(D) The nature of operations that
could result in exposure to asbestos, the importance of
necessary protective controls to minimize exposure including, as
applicable, engineering controls, work practices, respirators,
housekeeping procedures, hygiene facilities, protective
clothing, decontamination procedures, emergency procedures, and
waste disposal procedures, and any necessary instruction in the
use of these controls;
(E) The purpose, proper use, fitting
instructions and limitations of respirators as required by 29
CFR 1910.134;
(4) Access to training
materials. (i) The employer shall make readily
available to all affected employees without cost all written
materials relating to the employee training program, including a
copy of this regulation.
(ii) The employer shall provide to the
Assistant Secretary and the Director, upon request, all
information and training materials relating to the employee
information and training program.
(2) Training.
Employee training should include at least:
(i) Methods and observations that may
be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous
chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the
employer, continuous monitoring devices, appearance or odor of
hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);
(ii) The physical and health hazards
of the chemicals in the work area;
(iii) The measures employees can take
to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific
procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees
from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work
practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective
equipment to be used; and,
(iv) The details of the hazard
communication program to be developed by the employer, including
an explanation of the labeling system and the material safety
data sheet, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate
hazard information.
1926.62(l)(1)(i) through (iv); (2)(i) through
(viii) and (3)(i) and (ii)
(1) General. (i)
The employer shall communicate information concerning lead
hazards according to the requirements of OSHA's Hazard
Communication Standard for the construction industry, 29 CFR
1926.59, including but not limited to the requirements
concerning warning signs and labels, material safety data sheets
(MSDS), and employee information and training. In addition,
employers shall comply with the following requirements:
(ii) for all employees who are subject
to exposure to lead at or above the action level on any day or
who are subject to exposure to lead compounds which may cause
skin or eye irritation (e.g., lead arsenate, lead azide), the
program in accordance with paragraph (l)(2)
of this section and assure employee participation.
(iii) The employer shall provide the
training program as initial training prior to the time of job
assignment or prior to the start up date for this requirement,
whichever comes last.
(iv) The employer shall also provide
the training program at least annually for each employee who is
subject to lead exposure at or above the action level on any
day.
(2) Training program.
The employer shall assure that each employee is trained in the
following:
(i) The content of this standard and
its appendices;
(ii) The specific nature of the
operations which could result in exposure to lead above the
action level;
(iii) The purpose, proper selection,
fitting, use, and limitations of respirators;
(iv) The purpose and a description of
the medical surveillance program, and the medical removal
protection program including information concerning the adverse
health effects associated with excessive exposure to lead (with
particular attention to the adverse reproductive effects on both
males and females and hazards to the fetus and additional
precautions for employees who are pregnant);
(v) The engineering controls and work
practices associated with the employee's job assignment
including training of employees to follow relevant good work
practices described in Appendix B of this section;
(vi) The contents of any compliance
plan in effect;
(vii) Instructions to employees that
chelating agents should not routinely be used to remove lead
from their bodies and should not be used at all except under the
direction of a licensed physician; and
(viii) The employee's right of access
to records under 29 CFR 1910.20.
(3) Access to
information and training materials. (i) The
employer shall make readily available to all affected employees
a copy of this standard and its appendices.
(ii) The employer shall provide, upon
request, all materials relating to the employee information and
training program to affected employees and their designated
representative, and to the Assistant Secretary and the Director.
Process Safety
Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals
1926.64(g)(1)(i) and (ii)
(i) Each employee presently involved
in operating a process, and each employee before being involved
in operating a newly assigned process, shall be trained in an
overview of the process and in the operating procedures as
specified in paragraph (f) of this section. The training shall
include emphasis on the specific safety and health hazards,
emergency operations including shutdown, and safe work practices
applicable to the employee's job tasks.
(ii) In lieu of initial training for
those employees already involved in operating a process on May
26, 1992, an employer may certify in writing that the employee
has the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely
carry out the duties and responsibilities as specified in the
operating procedures.
1926.64(g)(2)
(2) Refresher training.
Refresher training shall be provided at least every three years,
and more often if necessary, to each employee involved in
operating a process to assure that the employee understands and
adheres to the current operating procedures of the process. The
employer, in consultation with the employees involved in
operating the process, shall determine the appropriate frequency
of refresher training.
1926.64(g)(3)
(3) Training
documentation. The employer shall ascertain that
each employee involved in operating a process has received and
understood the training required by this paragraph. The employer
shall prepare a record which contains the identity of the
employee, the date of training, and the means used to verify
that the employee understood the training.
Contract Employer
Responsibilities 1926.64(h)(3)(i) through (iv)
(i) The contract employer shall assure
that each contract employee is trained in the work practices
necessary to safely perform his/her job.
(ii) The contract employer shall
assure that each contract employee is instructed in the known
potential fire, explosion, or toxic release hazards related to
his/her job and the process, and the applicable provisions of
the emergency action plan.
(iii) The contract employer shall
document that each contract employee has received and understood
the training required by this paragraph. The contract employer
shall prepare a record which contains the identity of the
contract employee, the date of training, and the means used to
verify that the employee understood the training.
(iv) The contract employer shall
assure that each contract employee follows the safety rules of
the facility including the safe work practices required by
paragraph (f)(4) of this section.
(3) Training for process
maintenance activities. The employer shall train
each employee involved in maintaining the on-going integrity of
process equipment in an overview of that process and its hazards
and in the procedures applicable to the employee's job tasks to
assure that the employee can perform the job tasks in a safe
manner.
(1) Employees required to use
respiratory protective equipment approved for use in atmospheres
immediately dangerous to life shall be thoroughly trained in its
use. Employees required to use other types of respiratory
protective equipment shall be instructed in the use and
limitations of such equipment.
(5) As warranted by the project, the
employer shall provide a trained and equipped firefighting
organization (Fire Brigade) to assure adequate protection to
life. "Fire brigade" means an organized group of employees that
are knowledgeable, trained, and skilled in the safe evacuation
of employees during emergency situations and in assisting in
firefighting operations.
1926.150(c)(1)(viii)
(viii) Portable fire extinguishers
shall be inspected periodically and maintained in accordance
with Maintenance and Use of Portable Fire
Extinguishers, NFPA No. l0A-1970.
From ANSI Standard 10A- 1970. "The owner or occupant of a
property in which fire extinguishers are located has an
obligation for the care and use of these extinguishers at all
times. By doing so, he is contributing to the protection of life
and property. The nameplate(s) and instruction manual should be
read and thoroughly understood by all persons who may be
expected to use extinguishers.
"1120. To discharge this obligation he should give proper
attention to the inspection, maintenance, and recharging of this
fire protective equipment. He should also train his personnel in
the correct use of fire extinguishers on the different types of
fires which may occur on his property.
"3020. Persons responsible for performing maintenance operations
come from three major groups:
"Trained industrial safety or maintenance personnel.
(2) Signaling directions by flagmen
shall conform to American National Standards Institute D6.1 -
1971, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices for Streets and Highways.
(1) Only employees who have been
trained in the operation of the particular tool in use shall be
allowed to operate a powder-actuated tool.
(12) Powder-actuated tools used by
employees shall meet all other applicable requirements of
American National Standards Institute, A10.3-1970,
Safety Requirements for Explosive-Actuated
Fastening Tools.
(f) Other requirements.
All woodworking tools and machinery shall meet other applicable
requirements of American National Standards Institute,
01.1-1961, Safety Code for Woodworking
Machinery.
From ANSI Standard 01.1-1961, Selection and Training of
Operators. Before a worker is permitted to operate any
woodworking machine, he shall receive instructions in the
hazards of the machine and the safe method of its operation.
Refer to A9.7 of the Appendix.
"A9.7 Selection and Training of Operators. Operation of
Machines, Tools, and Equipment. General.
"(1) Learn the machine's applications
and limitations, as well as the specific potential hazards
peculiar to this machine. Follow available operating
instructions and safety rules carefully.
"(2) Keep working area clean and be
sure adequate lighting is available.
"(3) Do not wear loose clothing,
gloves, bracelets, necklaces, or ornaments. Wear face, eye, ear,
respiratory, and body protection devices, as indicated for the
operation or environment.
"(4) Do not use cutting tools larger
or heavier than the machine is designed to accommodate. Never
operate a cutting tool at greater speed than recommended.
"(5) Keep hands well away from saw
blades and other cutting tools. Use a push stock or push block
to hold or guide the work when working close to cutting tool.
"(6) Whenever possible, use properly
locked clamps, jig, or vise to hold the work.
"(7) Combs (feather boards) shall be
provided for use when an applicable guard cannot be used.
"(8) Never stand directly in line with
a horizontally rotating cutting tool. This is particularly true
when first starting a new tool, or a new tool is initially
installed on the arbor.
"(9) Be sure the power is disconnected
from the machine before tools are serviced.
"(10) Never leave the machine with the
power on.
"(11) Be positive that hold-downs and
antikickback devices are positioned properly, and that the
workpiece is being fed through the cutting tool in the right
direction.
"(12) Do not use a dull, gummy, bent,
or cracked cutting tool.
"(13) Be sure that keys and adjusting
wrenches have been removed before turning power on.
"(14) Use only accessories designed
for the machine.
"(15) Adjust the machine for minimum
exposure of cutting tool necessary to perform the operation."
(d) Use of fuel gas.
The employer shall thoroughly instruct employees in the safe use
of fuel gas as follows:
(1) Before a regulator to a cylinder
valve is connected, the valve shall be opened slightly and
closed immediately. (This action is generally termed "cracking"
and is intended to clear the valve of dust or dirt that might
otherwise enter the regulator.) The person cracking the valve
shall stand to one side of the outlet, not in front of it. The
valve of a fuel gas cylinder shall not be cracked where the gas
would reach welding work, sparks, flame, or other possible
sources of ignition.
(2) The cylinder valve shall always be
opened slowly to prevent damage to the regulator. For quick
closing, valves on fuel gas cylinders shall not be opened more
than 1-1/2 turns. When a special wrench is required, it shall be
left in position on the stem of the valve while the cylinder is
in use so that the fuel gas flow can be shut off quickly in case
of an emergency. In the case of manifolded or coupled cylinders,
at least one such wrench shall always be available for immediate
use. Nothing shall be placed on top of a fuel gas cylinder, when
in use, which may damage the safety device or interfere with the
quick closing of the valve.
(3) Fuel gas shall not be used from
cylinders through torches or other devices which are equipped
with shutoff valves without reducing the pressure through a
suitable regulator attached to the cylinder valve or manifold.
(4) Before a regulator is removed from
a cylinder valve, the cylinder valve shall always be closed and
the gas released from the regulator.
(5) If, when the valve on a fuel gas
cylinder is opened, there is found to be a leak around the valve
stem, the valve shall be closed and the gland nut tightened. If
this action does not stop the leak, the use of the cylinder
shall be discontinued, and it shall be properly tagged and
removed from the work area. In the event that fuel gas should
leak from the cylinder valve, rather than from the valve stem,
and the gas cannot be shut off, the cylinder shall be properly
tagged and removed from the work area. If a regulator attached
to a cylinder valve will effectively stop a leak through the
valve seat, the cylinder need not be removed from the work area.
(6) If a leak should develop at a fuse
plug or other safety device, the cylinder shall be removed from
the work area.
1926.350(j)
(j) Additional rules.
For Additional details not covered in this subpart, applicable
technical portions of American National Standards Institute,
Z49.1-1967, Safety in Welding and Cutting,
shall apply.
From ANSI Standard Z49.1-1967, Fire Watch Duties. Fire watchers
shall be trained in the use of fire extinguishing equipment.
They shall be familiar with facilities for sounding an alarm in
the event of a fire. They shall watch for fires in all exposed
areas, try to extinguish them only when obviously within the
capacity of the equipment available, or otherwise sound the
alarm. A fire watch shall be maintained for at least a half hour
after completion of welding or cutting operations to detect and
extinguish possible smoldering fires."
(d) Operating
instructions. Employers shall instruct employees
in the safe means of arc welding and cutting as follows:
(1) When electrode holders are to be
left unattended, the electrodes shall be removed and the holders
shall be so placed or protected that they cannot make electrical
contact with employees or conducting objects.
(2) Hot electrode holders shall not be
dipped in water; to do so may expose the arc welder or cutter to
electric shock.
(3) When the arc welder or cutter has
occasion to leave his work or to stop work for any appreciable
length of time, or when the arc welding or cutting machine is to
be moved, the power supply switch to the equipment shall be
opened.
(4) Any faulty or defective equipment
shall be reported to the supervisor.
(5) Other requirements, as outlined in
Article 630, National Electrical Code,
NFPA 70-1971; ANSI C1-1971 (Rev. of 1968),
Electric Welders, shall be used when applicable.
(e) When the welding, cutting, or
heating operation is such that normal fire prevention
precautions are not sufficient, additional personnel shall be
assigned to guard against fire while the actual welding,
cutting, or heating operation is being performed, and for a
sufficient period of time after completion of the work to ensure
that no possibility of fire exists. Such personnel shall be
instructed as to the specific anticipated fire hazards and how
the firefighting equipment provided is to be used.
(a) Before welding, cutting, or
heating is commenced on any surface covered by a preservative
coating whose flammability is not known, a test shall be made by
a competent person to determine its flammability. Preservative
coatings shall be considered to be highly flammable when
scrapings burn with extreme rapidity.
(3) No scaffold shall be erected,
moved, dismantled, or altered except under the supervision of
competent persons.
1926.451(b)(16)
(16) All wood pole scaffolds 60 feet
or less in height shall be constructed and erected in accordance
with Tables L-4 to 10. If they are over 60 feet in height, they
shall be designed by a qualified engineer competent in this
field, and it shall be constructed and erected in accordance
with such design.
1926.451(c)(4) and (5)
(4) Tube and coupler scaffolds shall
be limited in heights and working levels to those permitted in
Tables L- 10, 11, and 12. Drawings and specifications of all
tube and coupler scaffolds above the limitations in Tables L-
10, 11, and 12 shall be designed by a qualified engineer
competent in this field.
(5) All tube and coupler scaffolds
shall be constructed and erected to support four times the
maximum intended loads, as set forth in Tables L- 10, 11, and
12, or as set forth in the specifications by a licensed
professional engineer competent in this field.
1926.451(d)(9)
(9) Drawings and specifications for
all frame scaffolds over 125 feet in height above the base
plates shall be designed by a registered professional engineer.
1926.451(g)(3)
(3) Unless outrigger scaffolds are
designed by a registered professional engineer competent in this
field, they shall be constructed and erected in accordance with
Table L-13. Outrigger scaffolds, designed by a registered
professional engineer, shall be constructed and erected in
accordance with such design.
1926.451(h)(6) and (14)
(h) Masons' adjustable
multiple-point suspension scaffolds. (6) Where the
overhang exceeds 6 feet 6 inches, outrigger beams shall be
composed of stronger beams or multiple beams and be installed
under the supervision of a competent person.
(14) Each scaffold shall be installed
or relocated under the supervision of a competent person.
1926.451(k)(10)
(k) Single-point
adjustable suspension scaffolds. (10) For
additional details not covered in this paragraph, applicable
technical portions of American National Standards Institute,
A120.1-1970, Power-Operated Devices for
Exterior Building Maintenance Powered Platforms, shall be
used.
From ANSI Standard A120.1-1970, "Qualified Operators. Powered
platform shall be operated only by qualified persons who have
been instructed in the operation and in the inspection, with
respect to safe operating condition of the particular powered
platform to be operated."
Guarding of
Low-Pitched Roof Perimeters During the Performance of Built-Up
Roofing Work
1926.500(g)(6)(i) and (ii)(a) through (f) and
(iii)
(6) Training. (i)
The employer shall provide a training program for all employees
engaged in built-up roofing work so that they are able to
recognize and deal with the hazards of falling associated with
working near a roof perimeter. The employees shall also be
trained in the safety procedures to be followed in order to
prevent such falls.
(ii) The employer shall assure that
employees engaged in built-up roofing work have been trained and
instructed in the following areas:
(a) The nature of fall hazards in the
work area near a roof edge;
(b) The function, use, and operation
of the MSS system, warning line, and safety monitoring systems
to be used;
(c) The correct procedures for
erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the systems to be used;
(d) The role of each employee in the
safety monitoring system when this system is used;
(e) The limitations on the use of
mechanical equipment; and
(f) The correct procedures for the
handling and storage of equipment and materials.
(iii) Training shall be provided for
each newly hired employee, and for all other employees as
necessary, to assure that employees maintain proficiency in the
areas listed in paragraph (g)(6)(ii)
of this section.
(a) Training program.(1) The employer shall provide a
training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall
hazards. The program shall enable each employee to recognize the
hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the
procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.
(2) The employer shall ensure that
each employee has been trained, as necessary, by a competent
person qualified in the following areas:
(i) The nature of fall hazards in the
work area;
(ii) The correct procedures for
erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall
protection systems to be used;
(iii) The use and operation of
guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, safety net
systems, warning line systems, safety monitoring systems,
controlled access zones, and other protection to be used;
(iv) The role of each employee in the
safety monitoring system when this system is used;
(v) The limitations on the use of
mechanical equipment during the performance of roofing work on
low-sloped roofs;
(vi) The correct procedures for the
handling and storage of equipment and materials and the erection
of overhead protection; and
(1) The employer shall comply with the
manufacturer's specifications and limitations applicable to the
operation of any and all cranes and derricks. Where
manufacturer's specifications are not available, the limitations
assigned to the equipment shall be based on the determinations
of a qualified engineer competent in this field and such
determinations will be appropriately documented and recorded.
Attachments used with cranes shall not exceed the capacity,
rating, or scope recommended by the manufacturer.
(5) The employer shall designate a
competent person who shall inspect all machinery and equipment
prior to each use, and during use, to make sure it is in safe
operating condition. Any deficiencies shall be repaired, or
defective parts replaced, before continued use.
(6) A thorough, annual inspection of
the hoisting machinery shall be made by a competent person, or
by a government or private agency recognized by the U.S.
Department of Labor. The employer shall maintain a record of the
dates and results of inspections for each hoisting machine and
piece of equipment.
1926.550(g)(4)(i)(A)
(4) Personnel platforms
(i) Design criteria. (A) The
personnel platform and suspension system shall be designed by a
qualified engineer or a qualified person competent in structural
design.
1926.550(g)(5)(iv)
(iv) A visual inspection of the crane
or derrick, rigging, personnel platform, and the crane or
derrick base support or ground shall be conducted by a competent
person immediately after the trial lift to determine whether the
testing has exposed any defect or produced any adverse effect
upon any component or structure.
(1) The employer shall comply with the
manufacturer's specifications and limitations applicable to the
operation of all hoists and elevators. Where manufacturer's
specifications are not available, the limitations assigned to
the equipment shall be based on the determinations of a
professional engineer competent in the field.
1926.552(b)(7)
(7) All material hoist towers shall be
designed by a licensed professional engineer.
1926.552(c)(15) and (17)(i)
(c) Personnel hoists.
(15) Following assembly and erection of hoists, and
before being put in service, an inspection and test of all
functions and safety devices shall be made under the supervision
of a competent person. A similar inspection and test is required
following major alteration of an existing installation. All
hoists shall be inspected and tested at not more than 3-month
intervals. Records shall be maintained and kept on file for the
duration of the job.
(17)(i) Personnel hoists used in
bridge tower construction shall be approved by a registered
professional engineer and erected under the supervision of a
qualified engineer competent in this field.
(c) Lifting and hauling equipment
(other than equipment covered under Subpart N of this part).
(1)(vi) All industrial trucks in use
shall meet the applicable requirements of design, construction,
stability, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operation, as
defined in American National Standards Institute B56.1-1969,
Safety Standards for Powered Industrial
Trucks.
From ANSI Standard B56.1-1969, "Operator Training. Only trained
and authorized operators shall be permitted to operate a powered
industrial truck. Methods shall be devised to train operators in
the safe operation of powered industrial trucks. Badges or other
visual indication of the operators' authorization should be
displayed at all times during work period."
(1) Employees engaged in site clearing
shall be protected from hazards of irritant and toxic plants and
suitably instructed in the first-aid treatment available.
(c) Access and egress
(1) Structural ramps. (i)
Structural ramps that are used solely by employees as a means of
access or egress from excavations shall be designed by a
competent person. Structural ramps used for access or egress of
equipment shall be designed by a competent person qualified in
structural design, and shall be constructed in accordance with
the design.
1926.651(h)(2) and (3)
(h) Protection from
hazards associated with water accumulation. (2) If
water is controlled or prevented from accumulating by the use of
water removal equipment, the water removal equipment and
operations shall be monitored by a competent person to ensure
proper operation.
(3) If excavation work interrupts the
natural drainage of surface water (such as streams), diversion
ditches, dikes, or other suitable means shall be used to prevent
surface water from entering the excavation and to provide
adequate drainage of the area adjacent to the excavation.
Excavations subject to runoff from heavy rains will require an
inspection by a competent person and compliance with paragraphs
(h)(1) and (h)(2)
of this section.
1926.651(i)(1)
(i) Stability of
adjacent structures. (1) Where the stability of
adjoining buildings, walls, or other structures is endangered by
excavation operations, support systems such as shoring, bracing,
or underpinning shall be provided to ensure the stability of
such structures for the protection of employees.
1926.651(i)(2)(iii)
(iii) A registered professional
engineer has approved the determination that the structure is
sufficiently removed from the excavation so as to be unaffected
by the excavation activity; or
1926.651(i)(2)(iv)
(iv) A registered professional
engineer has approved the determination that such excavation
work will not pose a hazard to employees.
1926.651(k)(1) and (2)
(k) Inspections.
(1) Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas,
and protective systems shall be made by a competent person for
evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins,
indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous
atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. An inspection shall
be conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work
and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections shall also be
made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing
occurrence. These inspections are only required when employee
exposure can be reasonably anticipated.
(2) Where the competent person finds
evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in,
indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous
atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, exposed employees
shall be removed from the hazardous area until the necessary
precautions have been taken to ensure their safety.
(a) No construction loads shall be
placed on a concrete structure or portion of a concrete
structure unless the employer determines, based on information
received from a person, who is qualified in structural design,
that the structure or portion of the structure is capable of
supporting the loads.
1926.703(b)(8)(i)
(i) The design of the shoring shall be
prepared by a qualified designer and the erected shoring shall
be inspected by an engineer qualified in structural design.
(d) Safety instruction.
All employees shall be instructed in the recognition and
avoidance of hazards associated with underground construction
activities including, where appropriate, the following subjects:
(1) Air monitoring;
(2) Ventilation;
(3) Illumination;
(4) Communications;
(5) Flood control;
(6) Mechanical equipment;
(7) Personal protective equipment;
(8) Explosives
(9) Fire prevention and protection;
and
(10) Emergency procedures, including
evacuation plans and check-in/check-out systems.
1926.800(g)(2)
(g) Emergency provisions
(2) Self-rescuers. The
employer shall provide self-rescuers having current approval
from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
and the Mine Safety and Health Administration to be immediately
available to all employees at work stations in underground areas
where employees might be trapped by smoke or gas. The selection,
issuance, use, and care of respirators shall be in accordance
with paragraphs (b) and
(c) of 1926.103.
1926.800(g)(5) (iii) through (v)
(g) Emergency provisions.(5) Rescue teams.
(iii) Rescue team members shall be qualified in rescue
procedures, the use and limitations of breathing apparatus, and
the use of firefighting equipment. Qualifications shall be
reviewed not less than annually.
(iv) On jobsites where flammable or
noxious gases are encountered or anticipated in hazardous
quantities, rescue team members shall practice donning and using
self-contained breathing apparatus monthly.
(v) The employer shall ensure that
rescue teams are familiar with conditions at the jobsite.
1926.800(j)(1)(i)(A)
(j) Air quality and
monitoring. (1) General (i)(A)
The employer shall assign a competent person who shall perform
all air monitoring required by this section.
(B) Where this paragraph requires
monitoring of airborne contaminants "as often as necessary," the
competent person shall make a reasonable determination as to
which substances to monitor and how frequently to monitor taking
into consideration: location of jobsite; geology of the jobsite;
presence of air contaminants in nearby jobsites and changes in
levels of substances monitored on prior shifts; and, work
practices and jobsite conditions including use of diesel
engines, explosives, fuel gas, volume and flow of ventilation,
visible atmospheric conditions, decompression of the atmosphere,
welding, cutting, and hot work, and employees' physical
reactions to working underground.
1926.800(j)(1)(vi) (A) and (B)
(1) Air quality and
monitoring. (1) General (vi)
When the competent person determines, on the basis of air
monitoring results or other information, that air contaminants
may be present in sufficient quantity to be dangerous to life,
the employer shall:
(A) Prominently post a notice at all
entrances to the underground jobsite to inform all entrants of
the hazardous condition; and
(B) Ensure that the necessary
precautions are taken.
1926.800(o)(3)(i)(A)
(o) Ground support
(3) Underground areas (i)(A)
A competent person shall inspect the roof, face, and walls of
the work area at the start of each shift and as often as
necessary to determine ground stability.
1926.800(o)(3)(iv)(B)
(o) Ground support
(3) Underground areas (iv)(B)
A competent person shall determine whether rock bolts meet the
necessary torque, and shall determine the testing frequency in
light of the bolt system, ground conditions, and the distance
from vibration sources.
1926.800(t)(3)(xix) and (xx)
(t) Hoisting unique to
underground construction. (3)
Additional requirements for hoists. (xix) A
competent person shall visually check all hoisting machinery,
equipment, anchorages, and hoisting rope at the beginning of
each shift during hoist use, as necessary.
(xx) Each safety device shall be
checked by a competent person at least weekly during hoist use
to ensure suitable operation and safe condition.
(1) There shall be present, at all
times, at least one competent person designated by and
representing the employer, who shall be familiar with this
subpart in all respects, and responsible for full compliance
with these and other applicable subparts.
(2) Every employee shall be instructed
in the rules and regulations which concern his safety or the
safety of others.
1926.803(b)(1) and (10)(xii)
(1) There shall be retained one or
more licensed physicians familiar with and experienced in the
physical requirements and the medical aspects of compressed air
work and the treatment of decompression illness. He shall be
available at all times while work is in progress in order to
provide medical supervision of employees employed in compressed
air work. He shall himself be physically qualified and be
willing to enter a pressurized environment.
(10) The medical lock shall:
(xii) Be in constant charge of an
attendant under the direct control of the retained physician.
The attendant shall be trained in the use of the lock and
suitably instructed regarding steps to be taken in the treatment
of employee exhibiting symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of
decompression illness.
1926.803(e)(1)
(1) Every employee going under air
pressure for the first time shall be instructed on how to avoid
excessive discomfort.
1926.803(f)(2) and (3)
(2) In the event it is necessary for
an employee to be in compressed air more than once in a 24-hour
period, the appointed physician shall be responsible for the
establishment of methods and procedures of decompression
applicable to repetitive exposures.
(3) If decanting is necessary, the
appointed physician shall establish procedures before any
employee is permitted to be decompressed by decanting methods.
The period of time that the employees spend at atmospheric
pressure between the decompression following the shift and
recompression shall not exceed 5 minutes.
1926.803(h)(1)
(1) At all times there shall be a
thoroughly experienced, competent, and reliable person on duty
at the air control valves as a gauge tender who shall regulate
the pressure in the working areas. During tunneling operations,
one gauge tender may regulate the pressure in not more than two
headings: Provided, that the gauge and controls are all in one
location. In caisson work, there shall be a gauge tender for
each caisson.
(a) Prior to permitting employees to
start demolition operations, an engineering survey shall be
made, by a competent person, of the structure to determine the
condition of the framing, floors, and walls, and possibility of
unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure. Any adjacent
structure where employees may be exposed shall also be similarly
checked. The employer shall have in writing evidence that such a
survey has been performed.
(c) A substantial gate shall be
installed in each chute at or near the discharge end. A
competent employee shall be assigned to control the operation of
the gate, and the backing and loading of trucks.
(g) During demolition, continuing
inspections by a competent person shall be made as the work
progresses to detect hazards resulting from weakened or
deteriorated floors, or walls, or loosened material. No employee
shall be permitted to work where such hazards exist until they
are corrected by shoring, bracing, or other effective means.
(a) The employer shall permit only
authorized and qualified persons to handle and use explosives.
1926.900(k)(3)(i)
(i) The prominent display of adequate
signs, warning against the use of mobile radio transmitters, on
all roads within 1,000 feet of blasting operations. Whenever
adherence to the 1,000-foot distance would create an operational
handicap, a competent person shall be consulted to evaluate the
particular situation, and alternative provisions may be made
which are adequately designed to prevent any premature firing of
electric blasting caps. A description of any such alternatives
shall be reduced to writing and shall be certified as meeting
the purposes of this subdivision by the competent person
consulted. The description shall be maintained at the
construction site during the duration of the work, and shall be
available for inspection by representatives of the Secretary of
Labor.
1926.900(q)
(q) All loading and firing shall be
directed and supervised by competent persons thoroughly
experienced in this field.
(c) A blaster shall be qualified, by
reason of training, knowledge, or experience, in the field of
transporting, storing, handling, and use of explosives, and have
a working knowledge of State and local laws and regulations
which pertain to explosives.
(d) Blasters shall be required to
furnish satisfactory evidence of competency in handling
explosives and performing in a safe manner the type of blasting
that will be required.
(e) The blaster shall be knowledgeable
and competent in the use of each type of blasting method used.
(b) Motor vehicles or conveyances
transporting explosives shall only be driven by, and be in the
charge of, a licensed driver who is physically fit. He shall be
familiar with the local, State, and Federal regulations
governing the transportation of explosives.
(i) Each vehicle used for
transportation of explosives shall be equipped with a fully
charged fire extinguisher, in good condition. An Underwriters
Laboratory-approved extinguisher of not less than 10-ABC rating
will meet the minimum requirement. The driver shall be trained
in the use of the extinguisher on his vehicle.
(a) A code of blasting signals
equivalent to Table U- 1, shall be posted on one or more
conspicuous places at the operation, and all employees shall be
required to familiarize themselves with the code and conform to
it. Danger signs shall be placed at suitable locations.
Table U- 1
WARNING SIGNAL-A 1-minute series of long blasts 5
minutes prior to blast signal.
BLAST SIGNAL-A series of short blasts 1 minute prior to
the shot.
ALL CLEAR SIGNAL-A prolonged blast following the
inspection of blast area.
1926.950(d)(1)(ii)(a) through (c), (vi), and (vii)
(1) When deenergizing lines and
equipment operated in excess of 600 volts, and the means of
disconnecting from electric energy is not visibly open or
visibly locked out, the provisions of subdivisions (i) through
(vii) of this subparagraph shall be complied with:
(ii) Notification and assurance from
the designated employee [a qualified person delegated to perform
specific duties under the conditions existing] shall be obtained
that:
(a) All switches and disconnectors
through which electric energy may be supplied to the particular
section of line or equipment to be worked have been deenergized;
(b) All switches and disconnectors are
plainly tagged indicating that men are at work;
(c) And that where design of such
switches and disconnectors permits, they have been rendered
inoperable.
(vi) When more than one independent
crew requires the same line or equipment to be deenergized, a
prominent tag for each such independent crew shall be placed on
the line or equipment by the designated employee in charge.
(vii) Upon completion of work on
deenergized lines or equipment, each designated employee in
charge shall determine that all employees in his crew are clear,
that protective grounds installed by his crew have been removed,
and he shall report to the designated authority that all tags
protecting his crew may be removed.
1926.950(d)(2)(ii)
(2) When a crew working on a line or
equipment can clearly see that the means of disconnecting from
electric energy are visibly open or visibly locked-out, the
provisions of subdivisions (i) and
(ii) of this paragraph shall apply:
(ii) Upon completion of work on
deenergized lines or equipment, each designated employee in
charge shall determine that all employees in his crew are clear,
that protective grounds installed by his crew have been removed,
and he shall report to the designated authority that all tags
protecting his crew may be removed.
1926.950(e)(1)(i) and (ii) and (2)
(1) The employer shall provide
training or require that his employees are knowledgeable and
proficient in:
(i) Procedures involving emergency
situations, and
(ii) First-aid fundamentals including
resuscitation.
(2) In lieu of subparagraph
(1) of this paragraph the employer may
comply with the provisions of § 1926.50(c) regarding first-aid
requirements.
(3)(i) A designated employee shall be
used in directing mobile equipment adjacent to footing
excavations.
1926.955(b)(8) and (d)(1)
(8) A designated employee shall be
utilized to determine that required clearance is maintained in
moving equipment under or near energized lines.
(d) Stringing adjacent
to energized lines. (1) Prior to stringing
parallel to an existing energized transmission line a competent
determination shall be made to ascertain whether dangerous
induced voltage buildups will occur, particularly during
switching and ground fault conditions. When there is a
possibility that such dangerous induced voltage may exist the
employer shall comply with the provisions of subparagraphs
(2) through (9)
of this paragraph in addition to the provisions of paragraph
(c) of this § 1926.955, unless the
line is worked as energized.
1926.955(e)(1) and (4)
(1) Employees shall be instructed and
trained in the live-line bare-hand technique and the safety
requirements pertinent thereto before being permitted to use the
technique on energized circuits.
(4) All work shall be personally
supervised by a person trained and qualified to perform
live-line bare-hand work.
(1) While work is being performed in
manholes, an employee shall be available in the immediate
vicinity to render emergency assistance as may be required. This
shall not preclude the employee in the immediate vicinity from
occasionally entering a manhole to provide assistance, other
than emergency. This requirement does not preclude a qualified
employee [a person who by reason of experience or training is
familiar with the operation to be performed and the hazards
involved], working alone, from entering for brief periods of
time, a manhole where energized cables or equipment are in
service, for the purpose of inspection, housekeeping, taking
readings, or similar work if such work can be performed safely.
(1) When construction work is
performed in an energized substation, authorization shall be
obtained from the designated, authorized person [a qualified
person delegated to perform specific duties under the conditions
existing] before work is started.
1926.957(d)(1)
(1) Work on or adjacent to energized
control panels shall be performed by designated employees.
1926.957(e)(1)
(1) Use of vehicles, gin poles,
cranes, and other equipment in restricted or hazardous areas
shall at all times be controlled by designated employees.
(15) Ladders shall be inspected by a
competent person for visible defects on a periodic basis and
after any occurrence that could affect their safe use.
1926.1060(a)(1)(i) through (v) and (b)
The following training provisions clarify the requirements of §
1926.21(b)(2), regarding the hazards addressed in subpart X.
(a) The employer shall provide a
training program for each employee using ladders and stairways,
as necessary. The program shall enable each employee to
recognize hazards related to ladders and stairways, and shall
train each employee in the procedures to be followed to minimize
these hazards.
(1) The employer shall ensure that
each employee has been trained by a competent person in the
following areas, as applicable:
(i) The nature of fall hazards in the
work area;
(ii) The correct procedures for
erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection
systems to be used;
(iii) The proper construction, use,
placement, and care in handling of all stairways and ladders;
(iv) The maximum intended
load-carrying capacities of ladders used; and
(v) The standards contained in this
subpart.
(b) Retraining shall be provided for
each employee as necessary so that the employee maintains the
understanding and knowledge acquired through compliance with
this section.
Back
to Top
