OSHA Asks for Safety Regulation Input
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is looking for input from employers and construction workers. They are set to streamline their construction standards and have issued a request for workers and employers alike to submit recommendations.
Who knows construction safety better than the people who work it every day? And more than likely, there have been a few occasions where you have thought a regulation is worthless or outdated, or, conversely, where you have thought a regulation needs to be in place. Well, now’s your chance to tell someone about it.
The Standards Improvement Project (SIP) is said to be in its fourth phase, where OSHA says it will work to remove and revise the current standards—changing things that are outdated or confusing and those that duplicate or are inconsistent with other standards.
If you’ve ever had to adhere to OSHA standards and rolled your eyes at steps that were pointless, or if you recognize the need for additional standards, you can contact OSHA through this link: http://www.regulations.gov/.
The Agency creates standards for many industries, though their work in the construction industry is paramount. Their website is a virtual library for construction safety issues, as they work to reduce workplace accidents and fatalities. There you will find information on such topics as:
- Fall Prevention
- Crane and Derrick Safety
- Carbon Monoxide
- Electrical Safety
- Scaffolding
- Excavating
- Demolition
- Equipment Safety
- And more…
Though the OSHA standards are often seen as bothersome inconveniences in day-to-day worksite practices, they are there for a specific reason, and that reason is your safety. Since more than 4,600 construction workers were killed on worksites in 2011, these standards are crucial.
This isn’t the first or the only time that OSHA has asked for input from the people they serve. They operate an open-door policy when it comes to complaints and encourage workers to hold their employers accountable. They maintain that you can ask for an inspection and your complaint will be held in confidence.
A complaint can be filed on the official OSHA website, through the mail, or by phone. However, OSHA does recommend that workers attempt to find a solution through their employer first.
Construction safety is a huge industry. But it’s also a matter of life and death for countless individuals. When you are hurt on a construction site, you need to know that you have rights.
If you’ve been injured on a construction job in New York or New Jersey, contact the attorneys of Ginarte today. We represent injured construction workers, and we can help you, too.
