The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a regulatory agency of the US Department of Labor that assures the safety of workers through setting safety requirements–called standards—and enforcing those standards. Those standards are enforced through a variety of efforts, including a whistleblower system for employees and workplace inspections for employers that can result in fines and worse. Those standards generally stay the same, but they are changed or updated from time to time. In our nearly 30 years in the paving industry, we at Tucker Paving have learned that staying up-to-date with changes in OSHA standards and regulations to remain in compliance is in the best interest of everyone—it keeps employees safe from harm and it keeps a company from have fines and shutdowns. Let us share the tips we’ve learned over the years on how to stay OSHA-compliant with you.
Tips for Staying OSHA-Compliant
- Visit the OSHA.gov website often and sign up for their free online newsletter, Quicktakes or Información Rápida. Any changes will be in the “News” section of the website and reported as part of the newsletters.
- Sign up for annual subscriptions to the Federal Register. The Federal Register publishes OSHA regulations when they are changed, and when there are corrections, deletions, and insertions. You can sign up through the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), in Washington, D.C; they are also on OSHA’s website.
- Utilize online resources. Online resources like Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) or other online or print media will share news stories on OSHA changes.
- Join professional organizations. Join trade associations affiliated with your corner of the construction industry. For example, we belong to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Central Florida (ABC CF) and the Florida Transportation Builders Association, Inc. (FTBA), just to name a few. These organizations will share pertinent information about changes in OSHA standards and regulations. Many such organizations also have meetings, newsletters, and more that will keep members informed on important topics.
Team Tucker + OSHA = Safe Employees
We have been serving Central Florida since 1994 in the asphalt and concrete paving industry, and we take OSHA regulations seriously. We have completed projects for residential, commercial, and municipal clients. Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or use our contact form online. How can we help you with your next concrete or asphalt paving project?