OSHA Compliance Checklist for Construction Companies

Fall protection is the #1 most-cited OSHA standard in construction. Every worker at or above 6 feet in a construction environment must be protected by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). Leading-edge work, roof work, and floor/wall openings all require specific system configurations. Documented rescue procedures for workers in PFAS are also required.

All scaffolding must be erected under the supervision of a qualified person, inspected by a competent person before each work shift and after any event that could affect structural integrity. Planking must be secured, guardrails installed on all open sides at or above 10 feet, and load ratings posted. Scaffolding is the #2 most-cited construction standard.

Any trench 5 feet or deeper must be protected by sloping, shoring, or a trench box. Excavations 20+ feet deep require a licensed PE-designed system. A competent person must inspect excavations daily and after rain or other hazard-increasing events. Cave-ins are among the most lethal construction incidents — burial within seconds leaves no time to react.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection is required on all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp temporary electrical circuits used on construction sites. All extension cords must be 3-wire, rated for hard or extra-hard usage, and in good condition. Electrocution is one of the Fatal Four — electrical hazards cause approximately 9% of all construction fatalities.

Before work begins, conduct a documented PPE hazard assessment for each job task. Provide hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility vests, steel-toed boots, gloves, and respiratory protection as hazards require. The assessment must be certified in writing, identifying the workplace evaluated, the date, and the assessor. PPE must be maintained, replaced when damaged, and fit properly.

Struck-by incidents (vehicles, falling objects, flying debris) and caught-in/between incidents (rotating equipment, collapsing structures) together account for approximately 20% of construction fatalities. Required controls include: barricading vehicle operating areas, using spotters for backing equipment, securing all overhead materials, and ensuring machine guarding on all rotating equipment. Workers in traffic zones must wear ANSI Class 2+ high-visibility vests.

All hazardous chemicals on the site — paints, solvents, adhesives, concrete products, welding fumes — require Safety Data Sheets (SDS) accessible to all workers. Labels must remain intact on all containers. A written HazCom program must document your chemical inventory, SDS management system, and how workers are trained on chemical hazards. HazCom is the #1 most-cited standard across all OSHA-covered industries.

Portable ladders must be inspected before each use by the user. Defective ladders must be immediately removed from service and tagged 'Do Not Use.' Extension ladders must extend 3 feet above the upper landing. Workers must maintain 3 points of contact. Never use a ladder on slippery surfaces or near energized electrical equipment. Ladder incidents are consistently in the OSHA top-10 construction citations.

All power tools must have guards in place unless the tool design makes guarding impractical — in which case alternative protection must be provided. Grinders must have blade guards. Circular saws must have lower guards. Powder-actuated tools require operator training and licensing. Removed or defeated guards are a willful violation and the basis for enhanced penalties.

Cranes must be inspected by a qualified person before each shift. Operators must be certified (CIC, CCO, or employer-based program meeting 1926.1427 standards). Ground conditions must be assessed before setup. Load charts must be in the cab. Exclusion zones must be established beneath the load path. Crane accidents are among the highest-fatality construction incidents per incident.

All construction sites must have a fire prevention plan for sites with fire hazards. Fire extinguishers (10 ABC minimum) must be within 100 feet of any work involving combustible or flammable materials. Welding, cutting, and open-flame work requires hot-work permits, fire watch, and cleared combustible materials within 35 feet. Fuel storage must comply with NFPA 30 standards.

A first aid kit must be accessible on all job sites. Where a medical clinic or hospital is not within 3–4 minutes of the site, at least one person trained in first aid must be present per shift. Emergency contact numbers, nearest hospital location, and evacuation procedures must be posted at the job site. Document first-aid provider certifications.

OSHA construction standards require a Competent Person for excavations, scaffolding, fall protection, cranes, confined spaces, demolition, and other regulated activities. A Competent Person must be able to identify existing and predictable hazards and have authority to take prompt corrective action. Document training, experience, and designation in writing.

Confined spaces with serious hazards (atmospheric hazards, engulfment risk, configuration hazards) are permit-required and require a written program, entry permits, an attendant, a trained entrant, and a rescue plan before anyone enters. Construction confined spaces (manholes, crawl spaces, excavations, utility vaults) are common. Atmospheric testing must be documented.

Any time a worker must perform maintenance, servicing, or clearing a jam on equipment where unexpected energization could cause injury, LOTO procedures apply. Written procedures must be specific to each machine. Workers must be trained and authorized. LOTO violations frequently appear on construction inspection reports when workers service compactors, mixers, and pumps.

All work-related fatalities must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours. In-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours. Maintain OSHA Form 300 (log), 300A (annual summary), and 301 (incident report) for any recordable injury. Post the 300A annually from February 1 to April 30. Failure to report is a serious violation.

Work areas, passageways, and storage areas must be kept clear of tripping and slipping hazards. Debris and waste material must be removed regularly. Protruding nails must be bent or removed from waste lumber. Clear egress paths must be maintained at all times — blocked exit paths are a life-safety violation that often accompanies other OSHA citations.

Workers must be trained on the specific hazards of their assigned tasks before beginning work. Training documentation must include the date, topics covered, trainer name and credentials, and worker acknowledgment. Training must be conducted in a language workers understand. OSHA inspectors routinely request training records — missing documentation is treated as if training never occurred.