The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act was written into law on December 29, 1970, and took effect 120 days later. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was mandated with the intent to assure a safe work place. OSHA specifies the duties of both the employer and employee with respect to safety. The employer must comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated by OSHA.
Employers, employees, and the general public can log onto the web site. All of OSHA's regulations are posted on the agency's web site. The safety and health regulations for construction are found in 29 CFR Part 1926. There is helpful information about specific topics under the "Technical Links" and "Construction Pages". The inspection history of all OSHA inspections is also located at this internet site.
MSHA:
Normally, construction that occurs on active mine property, or construction needed to develop any mine property, is required to comply with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations. OSHA regulations are not applicable. Individuals can log onto the web site. This site also contains help information. A number of agency written reports on construction accidents which were investigated by MSHA can be found on their web site.
TRAINING:
Construction and mining can be very dangerous occupations. The employer needs to instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions. The employer further needs to instruct each employee on the regulations applicable to his/her work environment in order to eliminate, or control, any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury. Only those employees qualified by training or experience should operate power tools, equipment, or machinery.
Any employee required to handle poisons, caustics, or other harmful substances needs to be instructed in the safe handling and use of these substances. They should be provided with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on the substances. They need to be aware of the potential hazards, and any protective measures required.
Any employee required to enter into confined or enclosed spaces must be made aware of the nature of the hazards involved, the necessary precautions to be taken, the rescue methods, and must be knowledgeable in the use of required protective and emergency equipment.
OUR ASSOCIATES
Our Associates include professionals in mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil, structural, and mining engineering, metallurgy, and chemistry. Our associates have designed, built, and maintained residential, industrial, and commercial buildings, material handling, mining facilities, roads, bridges, trenching, excavations, stockpiles and landfills.
We offer a range of services for the construction and mining industries. These services include investigations, site inspections, and technical expert services related to construction and mining, equipment, tools and other incidents. These include backhoes, conveyors, dump vehicles, forklifts, ladders, man lifts, cranes, power tools, and scaffolding. We have investigated property damage claims from structural failures, settling, collapse, trenching, excavations, and water intrusion.
One of our Associates has previously worked for OSHA and MSHA, and has been authorized by OSHA to offer the 10 and 30 hour construction safety training courses to students and experienced construction personnel.
We assist the insurance and legal professions in the forensic analysis of construction defects, construction accidents, and product and installation defects, resulting in property damage, personal injury, litigation, or subrogation claims. We provide expert technical forensic services to both plaintiffs and defendants, and insurance professionals
