General Jobsite Safety

Whether you are the General Contractor (GC) or subcontractor at a job site, you have legal responsibilities for safety and overall work performance. There is always a requirement for an employer to provide a hazard-free workplace under OSHA’s General Duty Clause (Section 5a1).

However, there are multiple layers underneath the General Duty Clause that oftentimes are not understood or simply ignored. Let’s dive into some of these layers and responsibilities.

OSHA Contractor Expectations

OSHA states that the GC/Prime Contractor and any subcontractors have safety responsibilities on a jobsite and will be considered subject to any enforcement in 1926.16. This is a broad regulation that sets the tone for responsibility and enforcement; in other words, all contractors can be held liable for safety!

Note: States/Counties/Municipalities may have more restrictive regulations that contractors should be aware of and adhere to.

OSHA’s Multi-Employer Policy

There is very specific language for contractors creating hazards. Terminology can get confusing.

• Creating employer
• Exposing employer
• Controlling employer
• Correcting employer
• Hazard Communication
• Contractual Agreements

Specific Jobsite Safety Requirements

All jobsites, usually dependent on size and number of workers, will have some specific safety requirements. The employer of the onsite workers holds primary responsibility for providing these; however, as stated above, OSHA can hold the GC/Prime Contractor liable in some situations. 

• Toilet and hand washing facilities
• Drinking water and shade for breaks
• Basic PPE
• First aid availability
• Fire extinguishers
• Hazard Communication/SDS’s/Chemical Safety
• Emergency action plan
• Recognition, communication, and control of hazards
  • E.g. Asbestos, Silica Dust, Slips/Trips, Fall Protection

Summary

Every employer has safety responsibilities. When your employees step foot onto a job site with other contractors, the responsibilities don’t go away. OSHA regulations specify shared safety responsibilities and go into detail on how the responsibilities are executed on the job site. The bottom line is, an employer should always identify, communicate and control hazards that their employees encounter!