Hardwood Floors August/September 2019

BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES LEGAL

By Barbara Dunn O'Neal and Mariah Whitner

A SAFE SPACE Steps for Contractors to Take to Prevent andManage aWorksite Accident

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Workers who are contracted towork on building or renovatingworksites, including flooring professionals, regularly face potentially hazardous work conditions.Theseworkers are exposed to amuch higher risk of being seriously injured or killed than employees in other lines of work. A contractor’s top priority should be providing a safe and healthywork environment for all employees. Contractors should ensure that employees understand and complywith all safety procedures to decrease the likelihood of an injury.

Unfortunately, despite best efforts, accidents will happen. This article will outline steps that contractors should take to help prevent accidents as well as necessary actions if an accident occurs. Contractors should understand that careless or willful disregard of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards can result in substantial OSHA fines, or even jail time in the case of a fatality that is caused by a willful citation. STEP 1: Prepare a Safety Plan Contractors should be prepared for accidents well before they occur. A general contractor is responsible for everyone’s safety at the worksite. OSHA has cited general contractors for violations of subcontractors, even where the general contractor’s employees are not exposed to the hazard. The general contractor is considered the “controlling employer” who has general supervisory authority over the worksite, including the power to correct safety and health violations.

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