The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is “back in the enforcement business” and has been cleared to make worker safety an enforcement priority, according to U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.

In February, OSHA fined a construction company in Western Pennsylvania $539,000 for failing to provide fall protection to its employees working on a pitched roof after a roofing worker fell 40 feet to his death.

Remodelers are required under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to provide a workplace free from recognized safety and health hazards

The following are several simple tips to help ensure compliance and safe remodeling job sites:

• Conduct an assessment to identify and correct safety hazards on the job site.
  
  
• Conduct appropriate safety and health training concerning:
  • Electrical hazards
  • Hand and power tool use
  • Personal protective equipment selection and use
  • Ladder safety
  • Fall prevention and protection
  • Housekeeping
  • Chemical storage and handling requirements
  • Safe use of chemicals
  • How to read a material safety data sheet (MSDS)
  • Understanding health hazards of chemicals (e.g. lead and asbestos)
    
    
• Update injury and illness records, if applicable.
  Companies with 10 or fewer employees during a calendar year are not required to keep OSHA injury and illness records unless they are informed in writing by OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  
  
• Understand the OSHA inspection process.

NAHB has several resources to assist remodelers, including:

• The NAHB-OSHA “Jobsite Safety Handbook” and video identify key safety issues that can help industry professionals reduce accidents and injuries on the job.
  
  
• The NAHB “Home Builders’ Safety Program” serves as a guide for companies to develop safety programs,
  
• NAHB’s safety-related materials are available from BuilderBooks.com at www.builderbooks.com/safety.
  
  
• An overview of the OSHA inspection process.
  
  
• The OSHA webpage — OSHA Assistance for the Residential Construction Industry — created through the NAHB alliance with OSHA, which provides information on OSHA standards, job site safety and health hazards and solutions, developing health and safety programs and more.

For more information, e-mail Marcus Odorizzi, NAHB safety specialist, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8590.