Respirable crystalline silica can be generated when employees cut, drill, grind, crush, demolish, or disturb concrete, masonry, stone, tile, mortar, soil, or other silica-containing material. The smal...

Lead exposure can occur during demolition, renovation, abrasive blasting, welding, cutting, painting, surface preparation, and work involving older coatings or lead-containing materials. Because worke...

Temporary electrical systems are installed, moved, damaged, and expanded throughout a construction project. Cords cross active work areas, panels are exposed to dust and weather, and equipment may be ...

Certain California construction activities require a Cal/OSHA project permit or annual permit before work begins. Permit questions should be resolved during preconstruction, because waiting until mobi...

Trenches can fail without warning. Soil that appears stable can collapse after vibration, water intrusion, weather changes, nearby loading, or removal of material. Before any employee enters, the empl...

Falls remain one of the most serious hazards in construction. Effective planning begins before employees are exposed, not after a superintendent sees someone working near an edge. Contractors should i...

A scaffold can appear stable while missing a critical tie, brace, guardrail, access component, or properly supported plank. Because scaffolds are exposed to changing loads, weather, traffic, and other...

Ladders are familiar tools, which is one reason their risks are often underestimated. Many serious falls occur during short-duration tasks when employees choose a ladder instead of a safer work platfo...

A construction site can change significantly between morning and afternoon. New openings are created, access routes shift, material accumulates, weather changes, and different trades begin overlapping...

The phrase competent person appears throughout construction safety requirements, but it does not simply mean the most experienced employee on the crew. A competent person must have the knowledge and a...

Training records are often reviewed after an incident, during an inspection, or when a contractor is prequalifying for new work. A sign-in sheet can be useful, but it may not show what was taught, whe...

Toolbox talks are one of the simplest ways to keep jobsite hazards in front of the crew. When conducted well, they connect written safety policies to the work employees will perform that day. When con...