As one of the world’s busiest metropolises, New York City never has a shortage of large-scale construction projects going on. However, the huge number of construction sites spread across the five boroughs also means that New York is home to no small number of OSHA inspectors. Site inspections can and do occur at any time, which is why it’s important to take the proper steps to ensure your crew and the site are properly prepared.
Construction safety is no laughing matter, and one only needs to look at the workplace injury statistics to understand why it’s so important that you and your employees take site safety seriously. Having regular safety meetings and practicing all necessary safety procedures are an essential part of running a successful construction company.
The fines you could potentially face should you fail an OSHA inspection are bad enough. However, the human costs could be even more catastrophic. It’s important that you follow these tips to help protect your company and the health of your employees.
Perform Regular Safety Meetings and Safety Training
One of the most important aspects of site safety is being prepared. Accidents do happen, but the key to minimizing the damage they cause often lies in preparation. Every employee needs to know about all possible job hazards, how to properly use any safety equipment, and what to do in case of accident or injury. The easiest way to ensure this is the case is to have regular safety meetings and ensure employees receive proper safety training as necessary.
Keep Good Safety Records
Safety meetings aren’t just a good idea. They’re also a legal requirement. When an OSHA inspector suddenly shows up on your job site, they’ll usually ask to see your safety records, including the record and minutes of all of your safety meetings. You’ll also need to ensure you have proper records that show all of your safety equipment has been recently inspected. It’s also necessary to prove that all employees have received proper safety training, whether it relates to scaffolds, heavy equipment, working at heights, etc.
Always Assess Hazards and Practice Proper Safety
This is probably the most obvious part of construction safety, actually assessing and minimizing any potential hazards. Nonetheless, it is easy for veteran crews to get lazy over time. After all, they’ve put the same set of scaffolding together hundreds of times. Still, it only takes one mistake to cause an accident.
Therefore, your designated safety officer needs to always stay on top of things to make sure the site and crew meet all necessary safety requirements. The easiest way to avoid getting fined during your OSHA inspection is to make sure that you practice proper safety each and every time.
Be Prepared to Be Inspected at Any Time
Following all of the above steps ensure your site is as safe as possible. However, even if you take all of the proper site safety measures, you’ll still need to make sure that all of your employees are prepared to be inspected at any time. This means making sure that safety records and manuals, inspection certificates and any other potentially necessary items are on the job site at all times. Even if it means driving halfway back across New York City to get those safety harnesses you forgot for a simple 10-minute task, it’s worth it to always be prepared and always do things properly.
Safety starts at the top, which makes it important that any construction manager in New York or elsewhere does their part to create the proper company culture. At the end of the day, preparing for an OSHA inspection is actually quite simple. As long as you take the proper steps and always practice good construction safety, the rest will take care of its self.
If you need help inspecting and maintaining your site for OSHA inspections, Certified Site Safety has experts on hand to help. Give us a call: (914) 437-5454
