Construction Industry
Construction is a high hazard industry that comprises a wide range of activities involving construction, alteration, and/or repair. Examples include residential construction, bridge erection, roadway paving, excavations, demolitions, and large scale painting jobs. Construction workers engage in many activities that may expose them to serious hazards, such as falling from rooftops, unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment, electrocutions, silica dust, and asbestos.
The information, tools, and resources provided in these Construction Industry web pages are designed to assist those in the industry - whether worker or employer - to identify, reduce, and eliminate construction-related hazards.
How can OSHA help?
OSHA has developed this webpage to provide workers and employers useful, up-to-date information on the Construction Industry. For other valuable worker protection information, such as Workers' Rights, Employer Responsibilities and other services OSHA offers, read OSHA's Workers' page.
Directorate of Construction (DOC)
Provides workplace safety standards and regulations to ensure safe working conditions for the nation's construction workers; and coordinates with and provides assistance to other regulatory agencies on the implementation and enforcement of major construction laws and standards.
![Join the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction](/congress115th/20190108205454im_/https://www.osha.gov/doc/images/stopfalls16event.jpg)
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
(2019, May 6-10)
![Confined Spaces](/congress115th/20190108205454im_/https://www.osha.gov/doc/images/confinedspaces_slide.jpg)
Confined Spaces
Contains the latest information on the regulations, guidance documents, and other resources OSHA has to help employers and workers understand the rule.
- NEW Confined Spaces in Residential Construction [PDF]. OSHA Fact Sheet, (June 2017)
- Confined Spaces Litigation Settlement - Residential Construction. Confined Spaces in Construction Qs and As (PDF). OSHA Memo, (May 24, 2016).
- Is 911 your Confined Space Rescue Plan? (PDF) OSHA Fact Sheet (April 2016)
- Confined Spaces Litigation Settlement - Telecommunications (PDF). OSHA Memo, (April 13, 2016).
![Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard](/congress115th/20190108205454im_/https://www.osha.gov/doc/images/epgt_and_ds_slide.jpg)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard
- Q & A on the final rule (PDF)
- OSHA Enforcement Memos
- Enforcement of minimum approach distance requirements in 29 CFR 1910.269 and 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart V (2016, Dec. 22)
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(2015, February 18): Subpart V - Fall protection (PDF) | Subpart V - Enforcement dates (PDF) | Line-clearance tree trimming (PDF)
![OSHA Protects Workers From Trench Collapse](/congress115th/20190108205454im_/https://www.osha.gov/doc/images/trench1_carousel.jpg)
Trenching and Excavation
- NEW National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation [PDF]. OSHA Directive CPL 02-00-161 (October 01, 2018).
- NEW 5 Things You Should Know to Stay Safe in a Trench. U.S. Secretary of Labor public service announcement on trench safety, Sep 13, 2018.
- NEW Trenching and Excavation Safety, Public Service Announcement. U.S. Secretary of Labor. English: [MP3]. Spanish: [MP3]
- NEW Trenching Poster (OSHA 3215 - 2018) English: PDF • Spanish: PDF Order Hardhat Sticker (OSHA 0088 – 2018) English and Spanish.
- UPDATED Trenching and Excavation Safety (PDF). OSHA Publication 2226, (2015).
- OSHA Intervenes in Time to Protect Workers From Trench Collapse
- Quick Action by OSHA Inspector Prevents Possible Injury or Death
![Communication Towers Communication Towers](/congress115th/20190108205454im_/https://www.osha.gov/images/communicationtower.jpg)
Communication Towers
- Communication Tower Best Practices [PDF] - OSHA/FCC Joint Publication. A guide to establish accepted practices for performing communication towers work safely. (June 2017).
![Cranes & Derricks Cranes & Derricks](/congress115th/20190108205454im_/https://www.osha.gov/images/Crane1.jpg)
Cranes & Derricks
- NEW Enforcement Policy – Crane Operator Certification Requirements. OSHA Memo, (November 05, 2018)
- OSHA Proposes Rule to Ensure Crane Operators Are Qualified To Safely Operate Equipment. OSHA Trade Release (May 18, 2018).
- Crane Operator Certification Extension – Final Rule. OSHA delayed the enforcement date for crane operator certification by one year until November 10, 2018. Federal Register (November 9, 2017).
What's New
- NEW Enforcement Policy – Crane Operator Certification Requirements. OSHA Memo, (November 05, 2018)
- Small Business Advocacy Review Panel (SBAR Panel) Final Report and associated materials can be accessed at www.regulations.gov (Docket # OSHA-2014-0018-0073)
- National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation [PDF]. OSHA Directive CPL 02-00-161 (October 01, 2018).
- 5 Things You Should Know to Stay Safe in a Trench [Video]. U.S. Secretary of Labor PSA on trench safety (September 13, 2018).
- U.S. Department of Labor Seeks Comments on Proposal Regarding Railroad Construction Equipment in Cranes and Derricks Construction Standard. OSHA Trade Release (July 18, 2018).
- OSHA Leads National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls. U.S. Department of Labor Blog (May 16, 2018)
- Communication Tower Best Practices [PDF] - OSHA/FCC Joint Publication. A guide to establish accepted practices for performing communication towers work safely. (June 2017).
Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Construction Violations - 2017 (as of Sept. 30, 2017)
- Fall Protection - General Requirements (1926.501)
- Scaffolding (1926.451)
- Ladders (1926.1053)
- Fall Protection - Training (1926.503)
- Eye and Face Protection (1926.102)
- Hazard Communication (1910.1200)
- Head Protection (1926.100)
- Aerial Lifts (1926.453)
- General Safety and Health Provisions (1926.20)
- Fall Protection - Systems Criteria and Practices (1926.502)