1. Construction Self-Inspection Guide
This presentation covers some of the most frequently cited safety and health violations which cause a majority of fatalities and injuries in construction.
For specific information, refer to safety and health standards – Chapters 155, 24, 62 and 800(the Core Rules)

2. Most commonly cited hazards
Written programs
Accident prevention
Fall protection work plan
Hazardous chemical communication
Respirators
Lockout/tagout
Direct hazards
Fall protection
Personal protective equipment
Excavation and shoring
Eye/body wash
Live electrical parts
Noise exposure
Machine guarding
This short list of “Direct Hazards” are items that should be found on you Safety Inspection Checklist. This is not a complete list, ONLY a start.

3. Minimum 10 foot clearance
Power Lines
Minimum 10 foot clearance

4. Electric power lines Equipment & persons Under 50 kv Over 50 kv
10’ distance
Over 50 kv
0.4” per kv above 50 kv
Access by qualified
electrical utility workers only
10’ Min
This is one of the items on the Construction Attitudes Checklist.

5. Electrical Hazards No cage around bulb Improper Grounding
Normally, the ground pin doesn’t carry current.
When a fault develops in the tool such that a power lead touches the body of the tool, then current can flow through an employee who touches the tool.
A ground wire attached to the body of the tool will cause a short circuit and trip the breaker shutting off power when amps are passing through the circuit.
GFCI is better. It senses the current flow through the hot and neutral. If it detects a 5 ma difference between the two, it will shut off the power.
On construction sites, where moisture is frequently present and cords are easily subjected to damage, employers are required to implement an assured grounding program that tests the ground on cords and tools periodically and color codes the cords.
Alternatively, GFCIs can be used on the construction site.
Some tools are “double insulated” so that there is no possibility of touching energized metal parts in a malfunctioning tool. These tools specifically state that they are double insulated or have a double insulated symbol:
No cage around bulb
Improper Grounding
Exposed live circuits

6. Electrical Hazards All temporary power must be GFCI-protected
All electrical circuits and connections must be approved

7. Trenching/Excavation
Any trench four feet deep or more must be protected.
Example of shoring and a trench box
Needs a trench box

8. Openings with a drop of four feet or more must be guarded
Guardrails
Openings with a drop of four feet or more must be guarded

9. Standard Guardrail Specification
Top rail 39–45 inches with mid-rail
200 pound load requirement
No mid-rail and very risky behavior

10. Scaffolding
Fully planked and with guardrails

11. Stairways Four or more risers must have handrails
No handrails or guardrails

12. Fall Protection
Fall protection must be provided at elevations of ten feet or greater.
Fall Restraint prevents you from leaving the roof. Includes either a belt, harness or guardrails.
Belt or harness anchorage point must be rated for 4 times intended load.
Fall Arrest catches you in a fall and means a full body harness. A maximum 6’ fall is allowed. Includes a 5000 pound lanyard, lifeline and anchorage strength, or 3000 pound strength when deceleration devices are used and fall distance is limited to 2 feet.

13. Fall Protection Workplan
A complete work plan
This work plan is too sketchy

14. Augers, Pulleys, Chains & Sprockets
properly guarded cement mixer auger
Unguarded nip points
The most common offenders on a construction site are:
- Table saw - Belt and pulley on the motor.
- Air compressor - Belt and pulley on the motor.
- Cement mixer - Chain and sprocket and auger.

15. All Power Saws Must be Guarded
Needs a blade guard
Properly guarded

16. Incomplete guard Front Blade periphery Right side Left side
The standard requires the the point of operation be guarded against contact from all directions.
This guard has a missing component.
Some manufacturers do make inadequate guards.
The standard requires the point of operation be guarded against contact from all directions. This guard has a missing component.

17. Incomplete Guard Radial arm saw Requirements
Upper and lower blade guard
Gentle return upon release
Blade cannot extend beyond
edge of table
Remember that BOTH side of the blade MUST be guarded.
Blade guards bust be checked regularly to ensure that they are operating as designed and NOT pinned up.
Radial saw doesn’t have lower guard on blade
Standard guard is not always convenient for production use.
Clear Lexan guard extends 8” from blade in all directions. Adjusted to ride above stock. Fabricated guard.
Gentle return upon release
Saw must not travel beyond the end of the table.
Lower guard is missing
Remember that BOTH side of the blade MUST be guarded.
Blade guards must be checked regularly to ensure that they are operating as designed and NOT pinned up.
Standard guard is not always convenient for production use.
Note: Non-skid surface must be on floor in front of dangerous power tools.

18. Angle Grinders - 180° Guard Required

19. Ladders Must extend 36 inches above landing
Secure to prevent displacement
Yes
No!!

20. Articulating Boomlift
Full body harness required at all times

21. Floor & roof holes/openings
Covered and secured with no tripping hazards.
A fatality occurred here!!

22. Minimum Clothing
At least a short-sleeve shirt, long pants and substantial footwear required
Yes
No!!

23. Hard Hats Readily accessible
Must be worn whenever overhead hazards exist

24. Compressed Gas Cylinders
Must be stored properly
Chained, but can’t store acetylene next to oxygen
No chains

25. Vehicular Traffic Hazards
Employees must wear high-visibility apparel on road projects

26. Housekeeping
During construction, continuous cleanup is required to eliminate tripping hazards
This needs cleanup!

27. First Aid Kits & Training
First-aid supplies must be readily available

28. Accident Prevention Program
Written in outline format
Tailored to the particular operation
Weekly leader/crew safety meetings
Weekly walk-around safety inspections

29. Crew-leader Meetings
Document meetings and attendance

30. Personal Protective Equipment
Deficiencies in PPE include:
Failure to use
Improper use
Lack of maintenance
Not replaced when worn out
Out of date hardhat weakened by UV rays

31. Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention
Construction is a noisy activity and many construction workers suffer mild to severe hearing loss.
There is really no such thing as “tough ears” or “getting used to it”.
The best protection is earmuffs or earplugs worn at all times when working with or around noisy equipment.

32. Chemical Hazard Communication
For chemicals used at the worksite, be sure to have:
Container labels
Material safety data sheets (MSDS)
Employee training
Of the special programs we’ve talked about, the hazard chemical communication program is the most commonly needed.
If you use a coded system of labeling such as shown in the slide, your program must contain an explanation of the system or include explanatory material from the manufacturer of a commercial system.

33. Use emergency washing equipment for:
Corrosives -
that destroy tissue and eyes
include acids and caustics
includes chemicals with pH less
than 2.5 or more than 11
Strong Irritants -
that cause an inflammatory effect
at point of contact
Toxic Chemicals -
that are absorbed through the
skin and cause ill health effects

34. WISHA Consultation Services
Safety & health program review and worksite evaluation is available:
By employer invitation only
Free and confidential
No citations or penalties
Letter explains findings
Follow-up all serious hazards
A comprehensive consultation visit will lower but not remove your business’s name from the current cycle of scheduled compliance inspections but will not exempt you from
imminent danger
fatality
accident
complaint/referral inspections by compliance
Comprehensive consultation means a review of injury data, all written safety programs, physical walk through of the entire workplace, written report to the employer and confirmation of correction of all serious hazards identified.
For additional assistance, you can call one of our consultants. Click below for local L & I office locations: