How do you comply with OSHA and local codes and standards for foundation and framing work?

Building codes are adopted and enforced by the local building jurisdiction having authority (JHA). That is typically a local level jurisdiction, but there may also be county and state codes in place. The purpose of the Building Code is to enforce designs that ensure the life safety of the future occupants of the completed structure. OSHA is a federal agency in the U.S. that enforces the OSH Act, a federal law that requires employers to maintain a safe and healthy workplace for all employees. The OSHA regulations are enforced by either the Federal Agency, or in the case of 26 states, OSHA has elected to defer enforcement to a state agency. The OSHA regulations are meant to keep people safe during the construction of a facility.

In the world of OSHA, many people believe if you are not a commercial contractor you do need to follow these rules. In fact yes you do and are very responsible for following all the safety rules and regulations, companies can and will be cited if caught. Many companies do not understand and do not follow reporting and recording regulations. This has been at the forefront of issues that OSHA has been dealing with and is in process of going after contractors that are failing to follow these rules.

Specifically, OSHA regulations require the employer to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. In this case that is referring to the job site. If you employ people, you must understand and adhere to the OSHA regulations. In construction there is also an OSHA policy referred to as the multi employer workplace, which broadly means that the general contractor must make sure the trade contractors are not creating hazardous conditions for each other.

I have been in contracting for 24 years. I have to say some of the building code officials have never been in Constuction which is a serious issue. For these people to have to look in the book when I'm getting an inspection is totally rediculas. If I ask a question a lot of times I get well you would know better than me. It's just totally insane. For anyone doing inspections there should be standards for every single county in a particular state meaning so many years in the field they are involved with. You don't just send a guy out to frame a house that never worked in the field as an owner it would be and disaster. So why are there no standards and here in PA there are non. I think it's high time there are.

Again, local building codes have absolutely nothing to do with OSHA regulations, and in practice you almost never see a local building code official enforce the OSHA regulations in any way. They will not typically even call OSHA if they see a problem (which in my opinion is at least a moral deficiency, and should be a crime of negligence). Building codes are enforced through plan checks to ensure the building meets the code requirements, and then compliance is through periodic inspections by building inspectors who are comparing the actual construction to the design plans.

With proper training and understanding of what needs to be done, you can not only be compliant but be safe and stop injuries from happening. Training is much cheaper then OSHA violation or an accident or injury on the job site.

Communication is critical in construction. One mis communication could result in major costs, injuries violations. But communication is a two way street. I have had numerous code inspections and when they show up they have to look things up in the code book. I know for a fact you can't know everything. But if someone can't even read basic blue print designs and they are an inspector that's a sad day and I've called them out on it. There needs to be oversight on all sides to make sure everything is done right. This is why you see work place mishaps because owners and bosses let one thing slide and then they wonder why they had an injury or a building collapsed.

Culture starts from the top down and when we evaluate we need to show up with out warning and see if they are doing what is necessary and make sure they are doing what you tell them to do.