Surprise! Saturday OSHA Inspections Get Underway at Construction Sites, Unannounced
OSHA is working overtime during the busy construction season to ensure builders are following proper safety and health standards for their employees. The agency is conducting unannounced Saturday inspections of construction work sites as part of its Summer Weekend Construction Inspection Program.
"We have found that some construction sites are not as vigilant about maintaining required safety practices during weekends," said Michael Connors, OSHA's Midwest regional administrator. "The OSHA standards are proven methods of keeping employees safe and are to be followed seven days a week, 365 days a year."
OSHA says it has a "vigorous" enforcement program, having conducted more than 38,000 inspections last year and exceeding its inspection goals in each of the last seven years. In fiscal year 2006, the Agency found nearly 84,000 violations of its standards and regulations. The Summer Weekend Construction Inspection Program has been successful since its inception three years ago, the agency says.
The building and construction industry is one of the most dangerous for employees. The private construction industry accounted for 1,186 fatal work injuries in 2005, the most of any industry sector, and representing about one out of every five fatal work injuries in all industries, according to OSHA.