Concrete and Masonry Work: OSHA's Top Violations

By: Vic Sunshine
Submitted: 2007-01-17 15:15:23
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher |

Rating:

 

What are the most frequently cited serious violations of the concrete and masonry standard? The following are OSHA’s top four followed by suggestions and protective measures you can use to make your jobsites safe.

1) Failure to protect employees from impalement - rebar not capped or covered. Make sure that all rebar is capped/covered with an approved protective device designed for this purpose such as the hard plastic mushroom type caps which are designed to fit various sizes of rebar. Plastic or paper cups, orange traffic cones or tape are not acceptable means of protection. Prevent or limit your employees from working in areas where they could fall into or onto rebar. If this is not possible, limit employee exposure to these areas by use of guardrails or other fall protection measures as outlined in Subpart M. Rebar can be bent as a protective measure, however this practice must be approved by an engineer, or the rebar can be covered with lumber (e.g., a 2 x 4 board).

2`) Failure to establish a limited access zone to limit the number of workers in the danger zone where a masonry wall is under construction. The limited access zone (danger zone) is established to protect employees (in the immediate vicinity of new wall construction) from being struck by flying/falling brick and block in the event of a wall collapse. Only those employees actually engaged in constructing the wall should be within this area. This area must be marked off by means of a chain, rope, tape, or other material that will indicate to employees that they are not to enter the zone (area). The zone must be equal to the length of the wall to be constructed and extended out (from the wall’s base) a distance equal to the height of the wall to be constructed plus 4 feet. Therefore, if the wall to be constructed is 8 feet high and 40 feet long, the zone should be 12 feet x 40 feet.

3) Failure to brace unsupported section of masonry wall over 8 feet in height. A new masonry wall over 8 feet in height should be braced to protect against the hazard of collapse. The project engineer or competent person should determine how best to brace the wall. A typical masonry wall brace will include a vertical member, an inclined strut, stakes, and if necessary a strut brace. 2 x 10 scaffold planks are typically used as the vertical members and the inclined strut and 2 x 4s for stakes and strut braces. 2 x 4s and 2x 6s are inadequate for vertical members or inclined struts. All lumber used must be in serviceable condition. Finally, The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recommends that the support or bracing be designed and/or performed under the supervision of a “qualified person” to withstand (at a minimum) 15 pounds per square foot and those strong winds need to be considered.

4) Failure to have the drawings or plans at the jobsite that indicate the jack layout and formwork placement. Make sure that a copy of the formwork drawings and plans are maintained at the jobsite for review by the employer, employees, and OSHA compliance personnel. Your formwork must be installed as shown on your drawings and/or plans.

For more information on custom written construction safety programs / manuals, safety training, and discrete contractor safety programs / manuals please contact Vic Sunshine at Omni Safety Services (www.omnisafety.com)

Article source: Expert Articles