Construction management is a professional discipline applied to construction planning, design, and process. Professional construction managers (CMs) address the needs of owners by providing management services and expertise tailored to the project, independent of the chosen contract format or project delivery method. CMs apply comprehensive project controls to help manage the critical issues of time, cost, scope, quality, and safety. They can help improve worker safety by integrating safety and health into all aspects of the construction process, from the design phase to jobsite management.

This page was developed as a product of OSHA's former Alliance with the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA).

Hazards in construction management are addressed in specific standards for the construction industry.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, directives (instructions for compliance officers), and standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to the construction management industry.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

Frequently Cited Standards

View statistics for all construction divisions. The following standards, in order, were the most frequently cited by Federal OSHA from October 2011 through September 2012, in Building Construction General Contractors And Operative Builders Industry Group (SIC 15).

• 1926.501, Duty to have fall protection [related topic page]
  
  
• 1926.451, General requirements (Scaffolds) [related topic page]
  
  
• 1926.1053, Ladders
  
  
• 1926.405, Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use [related topic page]
  
  
• 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]
  
  
• 1926.1052, Stairways
  
  
• 1926.503, Training requirements
  
  
• 1926.404, Wiring design and protection
  
  
• 1926.403, General requirements (Electrical) [related topic page]
  
  
• 1926.502, Fall protection systems criteria and practices [related topic page]

For additional information for small employers, see OSHA's On-site Consultation.

Directives

• Policies and Procedures Manual for Special Government Employee (SGE) activity conducted under the auspices of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program. CSP 03-01-001 [TED 8-0.3], (2002, January 4).
  
  
• Multi-Employer Citation Policy. CPL 02-00-124 [CPL 2-0.124], (1999, December 10).
  
  
• Search all available directives.

Standard Interpretations

• Voluntary safety and health audits under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. (1996, September 11). Provides clarification of the circumstances in which OSHA will seek disclosure of employer safety audits.
  
  
• The role of self-audits in safety and health programs. (1991, October 22). Encourages employers to take the results of self-audits seriously.
  
  
• Use of loss control reports prepared by an insurance company for its policyholders, will create a detrimental relationship between the company and the policyholders. (1991, January 8). OSHA reaffirms its policy to use employer records to determine the level of management involvement in its safety and health program, even though this may cause a detrimental relationship between some employers and whomever they contact for consultation.
  
  
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Safety Resources

Construction work consists of a broad spectrum of activities, many of which are inherently dangerous. The following links, organized by topic, provide resources to assist professional managers in creating a safer work environment.

Asbestos

• Asbestos. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Provides safety and health information relative to asbestos in the construction industry. The heaviest asbestos exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition.
  
  
• Respiratory Protection. OSHA eTool. Helps employers and employees comply with the OSHA Respirator Standard. Contains helpful information on how to select a respirator appropriate to the exposure hazard, and how to develop a change schedule for gas/vapor cartridges.
  
  
• The Asbestos Advisor 2.0. OSHA Expert System. Provides an introduction to the scope and logic of the regulation for the general industry, shipbuilding, and construction.
  
  
• 29 CFR 1926.1101 - OSHA's Asbestos Standard for the Construction Industry. OSHA Slide Presentation, 80 slides. Addresses asbestos exposure in the workplace, including regulated areas, exposure assessments and monitoring, methods of compliance, respiratory protection, etc.

Concrete and Masonry

• Concrete and Concrete Products - Manufacturing and Construction. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• Silica, Crystalline. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• Respiratory Protection. OSHA eTool. Helps employers and employees comply with the OSHA Respirator Standard. Contains helpful information on how to select a respirator appropriate to the exposure hazard, and how to develop a change schedule for gas/vapor cartridges.
  
  
• Silica. OSHA eTool. Helps employers determine if silica exposure is present in the workplace, obtain a measurement of the silica concentration, determine if there is more silica than OSHA allows, and take appropriate measures for protection.

Cranes, Hoists, and Derricks

• Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• Cranes. OSHA Steel Erection eTool. Contains a module specific to the regulations in the revised steel erection standard that apply to hoisting and rigging.
  
  
• Crane Safety Awareness for Site Superintendents. OSHA Video. Discusses some of the hazards and risks involved in crane operations and identifies information managers should be familiar with if cranes are operating on their site.

Electrical Hazards

• Electrical. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• Electrical Incidents. OSHA Construction eTool. Looks at electrical hazards on the construction site, from overhead power lines to ground-fault protection. Includes background information describing how electricity works and the kinds of human injuries it can cause.
  

Emergency Preparedness

• Emergency Preparedness and Response. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• Evacuation Plans and Procedures. OSHA eTool. Helps small businesses develop an emergency action plan and comply with OSHA's emergency standards.

Fall Protection

• Fall Protection. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Provides safety and health information relevant to fall protection in the construction workplace. Each year, falls consistently account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry.
  
  
• Falls. OSHA Construction eTool. Addresses fall hazards common to construction, including ladders, unguarded steel rebar, and unprotected sides, wall openings and floor holes.
  
  
• Steel Erection. OSHA eTool.

Recordkeeping

• Injury and Illness Recordkeeping. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• Injury and Illness Recordkeeping Forms: 300, 300A, 301. OSHA. Also available as a 340 KB PDF, 12 pages.
  
  
• Frequently Asked Questions for OSHA's Injury and Illness Recordkeeping Rule. OSHA, (2001, November 21).

Safety and Health Management

• Safety & Health Management Systems. OSHA eTool. Use this eTool to discover the benefits of safety and health programs and to learn how to implement them in your business.
  
  
• $afety Pays Program. OSHA. Assists employers in estimating the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses and the impact on a company's profitability.
  
  
• Construction Safety: Choice or Chance. OSHA Video. Highlights the four leading causes of fatalities on construction sites and stresses the responsibility for safety as a joint effort of government, management, and employees.

Scaffolding

• Scaffolding. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• Scaffolding. OSHA eTool. Provides a comprehensive look at the OSHA Scaffolding Standard, with animations to help highlight key concepts, a slide presentation, and supplemental information on planking.
  
  
• Falls. OSHA Construction eTool. Includes a page on the hazards of improper scaffold construction.
  
  
• Scaffolding: 1926.450 - Subpart L. OSHA Slide Presentation, 50 slides. Provides slides presenting information on OSHA scaffold standard and general requirements for all scaffolds.

Trenching/Excavation

• Trenching and Excavation - Construction. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Provides safety and health information relevant to trenching and excavation. Excavating is recognized as one of the most hazardous construction operations.
  
  
• Trenching and Excavation. OSHA Construction eTool. Discusses ways to control the hazards associated with trenching and excavation.

Contacts

OSHA/State Offices

• Directorate of Construction
  
  
• Regional & Area Offices
  
  
• State Occupational Safety and Health Plans

Safety and Health Programs

An effective safety and health program depends on the credibility of management's involvement in the program, inclusion of employees in safety and health decisions, rigorous worksite analysis to identify hazards and potential hazards, including those which could result from a change in worksite conditions or practices, stringent prevention and control measures, and thorough training. It addresses hazards whether or not they are regulated by government standards. The following references provide information that may help employers develop and implement a safety and health program.

• Job Hazard Analysis. OSHA Publication 3071, (2002). Also available as a 497 KB PDF, 50 pages. Explains what a job hazard analysis is and offers guidelines to help employers conduct their own step-by-step analysis.
  
  
• Safety & Health Management Systems. OSHA eTool. There are four crucial questions you should be asking when it comes to safety and health programs. The detailed answers are found in the four modules of this eTool.
  
  
• $afety Pays Program. OSHA. Assists employers in estimating the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses and the impact on a company's profitability.
  
  
• Safety and Health Management Program Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines. OSHA Federal Register Notice 54:3904-3916, (1989, January 26). Provides safety and health program management guidelines for use by employers to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
  • Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program. OSHA Slide Presentation. Summarizes safety and health program guidelines.
    
    
• Safety and Health Add Value. OSHA Publication 3180. Also available as a 200 KB PDF, 6 pages. Describes how safety and health add value to your business, your workplace, and your life.
  
  
• For additional information, see OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs Safety and Health Topics Page.

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

• Construction Industry

Training

• OSHA Training Institute Education Centers
• Searchable Course Schedule
  
  
• Programs available from OSHA Training
  • OSHA Outreach Training Program
  • Susan Harwood Training Grants Program
    
    
• Training and Reference Materials Library. OSHA.

Other Resources

• Construction - Pocket Guide. OSHA Publication 3252-05N, (2005). Also available as a 285 KB PDF, 36 pages.
  
  
• Construction Industry Digest. OSHA Publication 2202-09R, (2011). Also available as a 642 PDF, 72 pages.
  
  
• Compliance Assistance/Outreach. OSHA. Provides access to OSHA resources that may help construction managers prevent injury and illness, including information about OSHA's cooperative programs.
  
  
• Small Business. OSHA.
  • On-Site Consultation
    • Program Information and Benefits
  • Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Recognizes small business employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Upon receiving SHARP recognition, your business will be exempt from programmed inspections during the period that your SHARP certification is valid.
    
    
• Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). OSHA. VPP participants are a select group of facilities that have designed and implemented outstanding health and safety programs.
  
  
• Statistics & Data. OSHA. Includes the following searches as well as instructions for using these and other database searches.
  • Establishment Search Page. Locates OSHA inspections performed at a given establishment or business.
  • Inspections within Industry. Locates industry related material using SIC codes.
    
    
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). OSHA. Developed in cooperation with Canada and Mexico. Replaces the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) system that dates to the 1930s. Contains information about the new system and how to use it to access a variety of improved economic and safety statistics.
  
  
• Construction Safety and Health. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic.
  
  
• Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety & Health (eLCOSH). Center to Protect Workers' Rights and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

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