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The following OSHA directives relate directly to the construction industry. OSHA has issued other directives which may be of interest. You may search the OSHA directives database using keywords or you may go to a specific directive of interest.
The following OSHA letters of interpretation relate directly to the construction industry. OSHA has issued other letters of interpretation which may be of interest. You may search the OSHA letters of interpretation database using keywords or you may go to a specific standard interpretations of interest.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is developing a new standard to address hazards faced by construction workers in confined spaces. We plan to issue a proposed rule for confined spaces in construction next year. To help us in this effort, we will hold public stakeholder meetings to gather information concerning confined spaces in construction. The meetings will be held according to the schedule below.
On March 8, 2011, OSHA's Rick Burns was performing a worksite inspection on a trench being dug by Trimat Construction in Mercerville, Ohio, when he directed an employee to exit the trench believing collapse was imminent. Within five minutes, it did and could have buried the worker under six to seven feet of soil. "The actions of the compliance officer likely saved this worker's life," said David Wilson, assistant area director in the Columbus area office.
Enforcement memos may provide agency policies and/or supplementary enforcement guidance, and some memos may include an interpretation of an OSHA standard. Selected enforcement memos related to construction industry are posted here.
02/06/2019 - Enforcement Policy for Welding, Cutting, and Heating in Confined Spaces.
On April 20, 2011, OSHA Compliance Officer Eliseo Hernandez and Assistant Area Director Joseph Roesler were on their way to an inspection near Auburn, Alabama, on Wednesday. Along the way they noticed an open excavation where employees were not protected from cave-ins. Immediately, they stopped and opened an inspection. The excavation was approximately 5 and 1/2 feet deep where two employees were working under an excavator bucket connecting a water line.
Assistant Secretary for
Occupational Safety and Health
Washington, D.C. 20210
December 10, 2012
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THROUGH:
FROM
SUBJECT:
