In an effort to provide a greater deterrent and encourage employers to provide a safer workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on Oct. 1 instituted a new penalty structure that increases fines for non-compliance by 300% to 400% for employers who have been previously cited for serious, willful, repeat or failure-to-abate safety violations.

"For many employers, investing in job safety happens only when they have adequate incentives to comply with OSHA's requirements," said Dr. David Michaels, OSHA assistant secretary of labor. "Higher penalties and more aggressive, targeted enforcement will provide a greater deterrent and further encourage employers to furnish safe and healthy workplaces for their employees."

Prior to Oct. 1, OSHA also began stepping up its inspections and increasing the penalties levied against not only large builders, but small- and medium-sized home builders, as well.

Examples of recent OSHA citations of home builders and contractors include proposed penalties of:

• $57,600 for failing to protect workers from falls at a residential construction job site in Ohio.
  
  
• $82,220 for failing to protect workers from falls, electrical and struck-by hazards levied against a framing contractor in Texas.
  
  
• $106,400 for failing to provide fall protection on a residential construction job site in Illinois.
  
  
• $128,000 for failing to provide fall protection or failing to wear reflective vests in high automobile traffic areas at a home building job site in Idaho.
  
  
• $51,500 for trenching and electrical hazards at a Texas job site.

Understanding the Inspection Process

OSHA historically has deemed the construction industry a high “hazard industry” and, as a result, home builders have frequently been targeted for OSHA inspections. While in the past, commercial contactors were subject to a majority of the inspections, under the rule changes, residential builders can now expect to be routinely inspected.

In order to better understand the OSHA inspection process, NAHB’s Construction Safety & Health Committee has developed guidelines explaining the OSHA inspection process and the steps builders should take, including verifying the OSHA compliance officer’s credentials; being cooperative; participating in an opening conference and the walk-around; taking pictures and notes; and participating in a post-investigative conference.

To access the guidelines posted on the NAHB website, click here.

A variety of NAHB safety training materials — including information on falls, scaffolding, trenching and excavation and a general job site safety handbook — are available at NAHB Builder Books. To view the information, visit www.builderbooks.com/safety.

For more information on safe work practices and safety training materials, e-mail Marcus Odorizzi at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8590.

Boost Job Site Safety With Fall Protection Training Products

In an effort to increase job site safety and reduce the chance of job related accidents, NAHB has produced the “Fall Protection Video, English-Spanish” and “NAHB-OSHA Fall Protection Handbook, English-Spanish.”

Both are available through BuilderBooks.com.

The 30-minute “Fall Protection Video, English-Spanish” can be used by builders to train workers to use safe work practices that eliminate fall hazards and comply with OSHA fall-protection standards.

The “NAHB-OSHA Fall Protection Handbook, English-Spanish” provides guidelines for creating a written fall-protection plan and identifying safe work practices that can prevent costly accidents and injuries. Written with clear text, photographs and illustrations, the book serves as a user-friendly resource for promoting safety on any job site.

To purchase the handbook and video online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.