🦺 Construction Safety Program Guide

Why Safety Programs Matter

Safety isn't just about compliance—it's about protecting your team, reducing insurance costs, and building a reputation that attracts the best workers. But most contractors struggle with implementation because safety programs are designed by consultants who've never run a job.

Building Your Safety Program

1. Legal Requirements (Non-Negotiable)

Every construction company needs:

• OSHA 300 Log - Injury and illness tracking (if 10+ employees)
• Written Safety Program - IIPP (Injury & Illness Prevention Program)
• Hazard Communication Program - SDS sheets, chemical safety
• Emergency Action Plan - Fire, medical, evacuation procedures
• Fall Protection Plan - If working above 6 feet
• Scaffold Safety - Competent person training
• Trenching/Excavation - Competent person, cave-in protection

2. Weekly Toolbox Talks (The Foundation)

Every crew, every week. No exceptions. This is where culture gets built or broken.

3. Site-Specific Safety Plans

Generic safety manuals don't work. Every job is different:

• Pre-job hazard analysis - What's actually dangerous HERE
• Site-specific controls - Where are the fall hazards, electrical, confined spaces?
• Emergency contacts - Nearest hospital, site-specific first aid location
• Daily huddles - 5-minute safety check before work starts

4. Documentation (What Saves You in Court)

If it's not documented, it didn't happen. This is where contractors fail:

• Training records - Who got trained on what, when
• Toolbox talk attendance - Signatures, dates, topics covered
• Incident reports - Every injury, near-miss, and hazard observation
• Corrective actions - What you did to fix identified problems
• Equipment inspections - Daily/weekly checks logged

OSHA Top 10 Citations (What Gets Contractors Fined)

These are the most common violations. Fix these first:

1. Fall Protection (1926.501) - $15K+ average fine
   • 6-foot rule enforcement
   • Guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems
   • Leading edge work protection
2. Hazard Communication (1926.1200)
   • SDS sheets accessible on-site
   • Container labeling
   • Employee training on chemical hazards
3. Scaffolding (1926.451)
   • Competent person inspections
   • Proper assembly and guardrails
   • Load capacity not exceeded
4. Ladders (1926.1053)
   • 3-point contact rule
   • Extension 3 feet above landing
   • No makeshift ladders
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147)
   • Energy isolation procedures
   • Equipment-specific procedures
   • Annual inspections
6. Respiratory Protection (1926.103)
7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178)
8. Trenching/Excavation (1926.652)
9. Personal Protective Equipment (1926.95-107)
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212)

Building a Safety Culture (Not Just Compliance)

Compliance is the floor, not the ceiling. Great safety programs are about culture:

Make It Easy

• Pre-load everything - Don't make superintendents create content
• Mobile-first - Forms on phones, not clipboards
• Bilingual by default - Not an afterthought
• Quick wins - 5-minute toolbox talks, not 30-minute lectures

Incentivize Reporting

• Near-miss bonuses - Reward catching problems before they happen
• No blame culture - People won't report if they get punished
• Visible follow-up - Show that reports lead to action

Lead by Example

• Owners/PMs wear PPE - Even for 5-minute site visits
• Stop work authority - Anyone can halt unsafe work, no questions
• Visible investment - Good equipment, regular training, not cheap PPE

The Real Cost of Incidents

Beyond the human cost (which should be enough), here's what injuries actually cost your business:

Direct Costs

• Medical expenses
• Workers' comp premiums (increase for 3+ years)
• OSHA fines
• Legal fees
• Equipment damage/replacement

Indirect Costs (4-10x Direct Costs)

• Productivity loss - Incident investigation, cleanup, work stoppage
• Replacement workers - Training, reduced efficiency
• Schedule delays - Cascading impact on project timeline
• Morale damage - Team sees company doesn't care
• Reputation - GCs blacklist contractors with poor EMR
• Bidding - Can't bid certain projects with high EMR

Implementation Checklist

📚 Related Resources

Additional Resources

• OSHA 1926 Standards - Construction-specific regulations
• Cal/OSHA - California contractors (often stricter than federal)
• CFMA Resources - Financial impact of safety programs
• Insurance Carriers - Many offer free safety consultations
• AGC/ABC - Industry association safety programs