Contractors OSHA regulation

In the United States, the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.119 Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals requires that a hazard analysis must be carried out for any process involving certain listed chemicals (see Appendix A of the standard) or involving more than 10,0001b (4535.9 kg) of flammable gas or liquid. Employers must involve employees in the hazard analysis, and it must be made available to employees and updated at least every 5 years. Employees and contractors must be trained in safe work practices associated with the identified process hazards. Eull details of these and other legal requirements as well as descriptions of the information that must be included in the analysis can be found in the standard. The most recent version of this standard and all other OSHA regulations are available at www.osha.gov. 

Contractors are discussed as a stand-alone topic in the OSHA Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) Process Safety Management (PSM) rule. That rule (with some internal references removed see Table 6.6) and the associated guidance (see Table 6.7) are provided here entitled OSHA Regulation—Contractors and OSHA Guidance—Contractors. 

Contract language is important in setting the responsibility of the contractor to work in a safe manner. Specific language should be included in the contract to define this responsibiUty. At the same time, the owner of the plant has the obligation imder Responsible Care (Section 7.3) and Title 29 OSHA regulations to provide all necessary information and certain training and to monitor the contractor s performance. 

Management policy requires contractor to conform to OSHA regulations and other legal requirements. 

Because contractor management is so crucial to safe and successfiil operations, all industries have extensive regulations and guidance on the topic. A discussion of the standards provided by OSHA and BSEE (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement) is provided below. 

Residential construction poses special concerns for contractors. One of the biggest concerns is falls, so OSHA requires fall protection that meets the residential construction requirements of 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13). According to the regulation, residential construction employers generally must ensure that employees working six feet or more above lower levels use conventional fall protection methods, including guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems. A personal fall arrest system may consist of a full body harness, a deceleration device, a lanyard, and an anchor point. (See the definition of personal fall arrest system at 1926.500). 

Multi-employer worksites should receive special attention, such as employment agencies, personnel services, home health services, independent contractors, and dentist and physicians in independent practice. The purpose of the regulation is to limit occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials, as any exposure can result in the transmission of bloodborne pathogens and can lead to disease or death. It covers all employees who can be reasonably anticipated, as the result of performing their job duties, to face contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials or body fluids. OSHA has not attempted to list all occupations where exposures could occur. Good Samaritan acts, such as assisting a co-worker with a nosebleed, would not be considered occupational exposure. 

Are contractors and subcontractors at the site to maintain effective safety and health programs and to comply with all applicable OSHA and company safety and health rules and regulations ... 

There are many hazards that exist in a school environment that can result in harm to faculty, staff, and students. These hazards can include falls, cumulative trauma, and natural disasters. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created a regulation that is commonly referred to as its hazard communication standard (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 1996), but it focuses only on the use of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. OSHA addresses the general need for employers to communicate to employees the hazards of various chemicals that are used at work. These chemicals can include products used by maintenance staff, janitorial staff, contractors, visitors, and teachers. Hazardous chemicals must be identified and included within the scope of a school hazard communication program. This chapter will explore the primary components of the hazard communication standard that apply to the use of hazardous chemicals in a school. The regulation will need to be read in its full text to identify all issues, details, and exemptions that might apply. 

OSHA has the right of entry to any site to inspect or investigate for compliance with federal regulations. This does not reduce the responsibility of the plant owner, who should, at a minimum, monitor contractor incident reports for adverse trends. The owner should also have a program of surveillance by which he can monitor the contractor s day-to-day adherence to plant safety rules. 

The three major OSHA standards most frequently cited to employers regarding contractor safety are Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemical (29 CFR 1910.110), Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) (29 CFR 1910.147), and Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). These regulations pertain to the hiring of outside contractors and subcontractors to perform repair work, plant modification, equipment maintenance, etc. Many countries around the world have their comparable standards. 

As you can see, OSHA sets forth plenty of rules for contractors to follow. In addition to OSHA, you have to work within the framework of EPA regulations and any state and local requirements. Large companies can afford safety officers to adhere to the rules. Most contractors do not have this luxury. Therefore, the burden may fall on your shoulders. If it does, take it seriously. 

Owners at OSHA PSM-regulated facilities are required to maintain a log of contractor injuries and illnesses. This can be a log that they maintain or a copy of the contractors ... 

The state of Washington exercises safety and health jurisdiction over most private sector employers in the state, and public sector employers except the federal government. Federal OSHA exercises jurisdiction over employers not covered by the state of Washington, including civilian federal employees and private contractors on military reservations and national parks, floating maritime operations, the United States Postal Service, tribal operations and tribal member employers on Indian Reservations and Trust Lands, and certain contractors within the boundary of the Hanford Reservation or the Hanford Reach National Monument not regulated by DOE or the state of Washington. See 29 CFR 1952.122. 

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