Page 223 - Safety Memo

work together to ensure that safety and health are always part
of the decisions made and all employees and supervisors are
About This Pocket Guide fully trained to work safely. The benefits of effective, proactive
safety programs include
The construction industry involves many types of work activities
covered by numerous regulations in title 8 of the California Code of • higher productivity and employee morale,
Regulations (T8 CCR). T8 CCR contains detailed information on • higher quality of work and products produced,
regulations and workplace safety programs, including
specifications and exceptions. Construction employers may have • fewer worker injuries,
requirements in the Construction Safety Orders (CSOs), Electrical • lower compensation insurance cost and absenteeism, and
Safety Orders (ESOs), Tunnel Safety Orders (TSOs), Compressed
Air Safety Orders (CASOs), and the General Industry Safety • lower employee turnover.
Orders (GISOs). A written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) should be the
To assist the construction industry in working safely and foundation for all of your other safety and health programs and is
complying with title 8 regulations, the Cal/OSHA Publications required for every workplace regulated under title 8 of the California
Unit has updated this Pocket Guide. This guide is intended to be Code of Regulations (T8 CCR). A summary of the basic elements
used as a reference for workers, employers, supervisors, job of an IIPP has been included in the Injury and Illness Prevention
stewards, safety personnel, and others. This Pocket Guide: Program section of this guide. Employers are also encouraged to
use Cal/OSHA’s IIPP eTool (www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/etools/09-
• Summarizes safety requirements from T8 CCR that 031/index.htm) to develop a specific IIPP tailored to their own
apply to the construction industry. It is not meant to be workplaces.
either a substitute for or a legal interpretation of the
occupational safety and health regulations in T8 CCR Remember, the effectiveness of all your safety programs depend
(see T8 CCR or detailed information). on how well you actually implement and maintain them. You must
regularly review and update your programs in order to keep them
• Lists the major subject headings in alphabetical order in effective. Employers and employees must also remember that the
the Table of Contents, and each subject heading is linked regulations in T8 CCR only set minimum requirements and they
to its content. should strive to exceed the standards at all times.
• Provides highlights of selected safety standards in each For safety and health related assistance, employers and
major subject heading within its scope and may also employees may contact the nearest Cal/OSHA Consultation
include best practices in safety and health. Office listed on the back cover of this guide.
• Is not all-inclusive. The contents under the bullets,
lists, notes, and exceptions are highlights of
regulatory requirements, best practices, and other Access
construction safety and health information. Readers
should refer directly to T8 CCR for complete The employer must provide safe access to and from all work
information. levels or surfaces. Regulated means of access are as follows:
A. Stairways, ramps, or ladders must be provided at all points
• Contains abbreviations as described in the List of Acronyms
section. It is available in PDF format and can be printed where a break in elevation of 18 inches or more occurs in a
frequently traveled passageway, entry, or exit. 1629(a)(3)
online.
B. Aerial devices, such as cherry pickers and boom trucks,
may be vehicle-mounted or self-propelled and used to
Workplace Safety and Health position employees, tools, and materials. 3637, and 3648
Proactive safety and health programs are an effective way to
prevent workplace injuries and illnesses and reduce the costs
of doing business. In such programs employers and employees

4 Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry June 2019 Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry | June 2019 5