This course is part of the Series of courses on Heavy Civil Construction Safety. It is the intent of this series of courses to provide the reader with a sound knowledge base of the fundamentals of safety so they can be considered one of the Industry’s Competent Safety Personnel. Supervisory engineering responsibilities require this type of training so leaders can help the staff they oversee avoid accidents.
The series of courses will attempt to make this material easy to read and understand. It does not go into any depth on technical subjects but will provide enough material for the reader to be aware of the fundamentals in a wide variety of subject areas. Course Topics of this series may include: General OSHA and MSHA Responsibilities, Personal Protection, Hand and Power Tools, Ladders and Scaffolds, Excavation and Trenches, Equipment operations, Crane Safety, Rigging Safety, Traffic Control, Fire Protection, & Equipment Transporting
This first course: Rules & Roles of OSHA & MSHA discusses the similarities and differences between these two governing agencies, and their respective requirements for project safety. The goal of this first section is to familiarize the reader with the basic policies and procedures of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This material will include OSHA inspections, citations, a brief overview of recordkeeping practices, and similar subjects. OSHA’s & MSHA’s purposes provide an essential role in the prevention of accidents, and they deserve our respect and assistance in their function.
The purpose of this course is to help engineers who design heavy civil construction items understand the processes of construction to make their designs safer, more timely, cost effective, and with better quality. After completion the reader should have a basic understanding of the ssfety requirements needed to construct their designs. From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
Lastly, safety must be a constant focus of every operation. Because of the variability of Heavy Civil Construction Projects, they are often chosen to be constructed in some of the most adverse and inaccessible areas imaginable. Working with extreme weights, at excessive heights, in adverse conditions, and around large equipment requires safety diligence from every stakeholder. Please be safe.
