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1926 Subpart C
Overview
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH                         1926 Subpart C

Overview for Subpart C
General Safety and Health Provisions

Subpart C contains the basic requirements of a safety and health program. These requirements in sections 20 and 21 are referenced throughout the construction standards. Standards such as the one in 1926.20(b)(2) "...frequent and regular inspections of the job sites...by competent persons..." are referenced in several subparts including Supbart P, Excavations, and Subpart X, Stairways and Ladders.

Subpart C also contains the definitions for several terms used in the construction standards. The definitions for terms such as competent person, qualified, approved and suitable are located in section 32.

Other general requirements covering topics such as first aid, fire protection, housekeeping at the site. Illumination, sanitation, and personal protective equipment are also found in subpart C in sections 22 through 28.

Medical and exposure record access and preservation are contained in section 33.

Exits and emergency action plans are in sections 34 and 35.

The list of the 50 most frequently cited standards from January 1, 1990 to April 1, 1996 (shown in Appendix B) includes:
1926.20(b)(1), # 9 on the list,
1926.20(b)(2), # 10 on the list, and
1926.21(b)(2), # 4 on the list
The lack of adequate safety and health programs, site inspections and training are serious violations of the OSHA standards. The control measures are to utilize a general safety and health program to develop site specific plans for inspection and training and to communicate these work practices among the contractors at the project. A summary of safety and health program management guidelines are included in this section.

Further, OSHA developed the Focused Inspection Initiative to recognize the efforts of responsible contractors who have implemented effective safety and health programs/plans and to encourage other contractors to adopt similar programs. A summary of this document is included in this section.

  Standard Summary Standard Number
Competent Person Designated by employer to identify hazards that are dangerous to employees... 1926.32 (f)
Confined Spaces Employees instructed in the hazards, precautions, PPE, emergency equipment. 1926.21(b)(6)
Construction Work Construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting or decorating. 1926.33(g)
Emergency Procedures for escape, accounting, medical, alarms, and training. 1926.35
Employee Training Each employee in the recognition and avoidance or unsafe conditions, standards, to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure. 1926.21(b)(2)
Exits No locks or obstructions and signs where the exit or way not clear. 1926.34
Housekeeping Work ares, walkways, clear of debris; garbage and flammable/hazardous waste disposed, frequently and regularly. 1926.25
Lockout/tagout Unsafe equipment must be identified or made inoperable by tagging, locking or removing. 1926.20(b)(1)&(b)(2)
Medical Records Employees/represenative examine, copy and informed of the standard; records to be kept for time employed plus 30 years, successor employer to receive and maintain records. 1926.33
Program Employer initiates and maintains programs. Programs provide for and frequent inspections by compentent persons. 1926.20(b)(1)&(b)(2)
Site Inspection Compentent persons to make frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials, and equipment. 1926.20(b)(3)
Training Employer Use safety and health programs by OSHA. 1926.21(b)(1)
 
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