Do OSHA Construction Standards Apply to Designers?

摘要

Responsibility for construction jobsite safety is challenging. It is often difficult to know which safety standards will apply to a given party on the project. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) requires employers to provide a hazard-free environment. OSHA safety standards apply to all employers engaged in "construction work," which is defined as "work for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating." Given this broad definition, questions arise about how the construction safety standards apply to design professionals. A recent case involving the death of three construction employees demonstrates that design professionals are not automatically exempt from OSHA's construction standards.