Safety is an fundamental part of the construction process and is our number one priority at PCS. It is crucial to stay up-to-date on all regulations and laws in the construction industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plans to make significant changes in 2016, including increasing civil penalties for the first time since 1990. Under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, OSHA’s citation penalties will be tied to the Consumer Price Index for future annual increases. It is anticipated that “serious” penalties will raise from $7,000 to about $12,000 and “repeat” citations will from $70,000 to $125,000. Other changes will include a final rule regarding occupational exposure to crystalline silica, new electronic reporting obligations and updated health and safety management guidelines.
With all these new changes in regulations and penalties, now is the time to review company safety policies, programs and procedures, as well as focus on constant re-training and re-certifying.