OSHA 510 key terms

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act requires employers to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm, even when no specific standard covers the hazard.

A condition that a reasonable person with knowledge of the industry would identify as dangerous, or that the employer already knows about through experience, injury records, or industry practice.

OSHA policy holding the creating, exposing, correcting, and controlling employers jointly responsible for hazards on a shared construction site, based on the role each played in causing or abating the hazard.

The employer with general supervisory authority over a worksite, such as the general contractor, who is responsible for ensuring hazards are corrected even if its own employees are not exposed.

One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in surroundings and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them, as required in many 1926 subparts.

One who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter.

29 CFR 1926 applies to construction, alteration, and repair work, including painting and decorating; maintenance work is generally covered by 29 CFR 1910 general industry rules instead.

29 CFR 1910 rules covering manufacturing, warehousing, and most non-construction employment; some provisions apply to construction through cross-references in 1926 subparts.

Legally enforceable rules published in 29 CFR parts 1910, 1926, and related parts that specify required workplace conditions, methods, and training for covered employers.

The systematic process of finding workplace conditions and practices that could cause injury or illness, using inspections, job hazard analysis, injury records, and employee reports.

A technique that breaks a task into steps, identifies hazards at each step, and defines controls before work begins; often documented on a pre-task plan for high-risk construction activities.

A ranked approach to reducing risk: eliminate the hazard, substitute a safer method, apply engineering controls, then administrative controls, with personal protective equipment as the last line of defense.

An employer's organized set of policies, procedures, training, and accountability measures for managing workplace safety, typically covering management commitment, worker participation, hazard identification, and training.

A written program required for bloodborne pathogens and other health hazards that describes exposure determinations, control methods, work practices, and post-exposure procedures for affected employees.

A written program under 1926.59 requiring safety data sheets, container labels, and employee training on hazardous chemicals in the workplace, aligned with the global harmonized system.

A standardized 16-section document supplied by the chemical manufacturer that describes hazards, safe handling, and emergency measures for a hazardous substance; must be readily accessible to workers.

Airborne particles of crystalline quartz small enough to reach the deep lung; 1926.1153 sets a permissible exposure limit and requires engineering controls, respiratory protection, and medical surveillance.

A list of common construction tasks in 1926.1153 with specified engineering controls and work practices; employers who fully follow the assigned controls need not perform exposure monitoring.

The maximum airborne concentration of a substance to which a worker may be exposed, averaged over a stated time period, as established by OSHA standards.

Equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards, such as hard hats, gloves, and eye protection; employers must assess hazards, provide suitable gear at no cost, and train employees in its use.

Protective devices meeting 1926.102 requirements that must be worn when machines or operations present potential eye or face injury from flying particles, molten metal, chemicals, or light radiation.

A written plan under 1926.24 and 1926.150 addressing ignition sources, combustible storage, firefighting equipment, alarm procedures, and employee training for the site.

A written authorization required before welding, cutting, or other spark-producing operations, documenting that fire hazards have been removed and a fire watch is in place.

Screens, helmets, and eye protection required around welding and cutting to shield the operator and nearby workers from arc flash, sparks, and hot slag.

A plan for signs, signals, barricades, and flaggers that routes vehicles and pedestrians safely through or around a construction work zone.

Trained workers who control traffic with signals and high-visibility gear; 1926.201 requires them to be competent in flagging procedures and positioned to be clearly visible.

A physical barrier used to block access, protect the public from hazards, or channel traffic; must be visible and appropriate to the hazard and location.

1926.250 requirements for keeping stored materials stable, stacked on level surfaces, blocked or interlocked to prevent sliding, and kept clear of walkways and exits.

Slings, shackles, and hardware used to connect a load to a hoisting device; slings must be inspected, rated, and removed from service when damaged.

A device that detects a ground fault and quickly interrupts power; required for 120-volt receptacles on construction sites and for temporary wiring in wet or damp locations.

An alternative to GFCIs in which cord sets and equipment are visually inspected and electrically tested on a documented schedule to verify grounding continuity.

Procedures for isolating and de-energizing energy sources before servicing equipment, including applying locks and tags to prevent accidental startup or release of stored energy.

A scaffold must support its own weight plus at least four times the maximum intended load, with platforms fully planked and rated for the work performed.

The person who determines scaffold feasibility, supervises erection and dismantling, and inspects scaffolds before each work shift and after events that could affect structural integrity.

Systems such as guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest used to protect workers from falls of six feet or more in construction, with specific trigger heights for some activities.

A system of anchor, connector, and body harness that stops a fall; must limit arrest forces and keep the worker from striking a lower level.

A designated area near an unprotected edge where only trained workers may enter, marked by control lines, used for leading edge work and certain other fall-hazard tasks.

1926.1427 requires crane operators to be certified or licensed by an accredited organization and evaluated on the specific equipment type they operate.

The area swept by the rotating superstructure or counterweight; it must be barricaded to prevent employees from being struck by the crane.

Shoring, shielding, or sloping required for trenches five feet or deeper, designed by a competent person based on soil classification and depth.

Grouping of soil as stable rock, Type A, Type B, or Type C based on strength and stability, which determines the maximum allowable slope and protective system for an excavation.

The person who inspects excavations daily and after events like rain or vibration, classifies soil, and determines protective system requirements and access/egress needs.

1926.1052 and 1926.1053 rules covering stair rails, landings, ladder angle, side rails, and the three-foot extension of ladders above a landing.

Employers must record serious injuries and illnesses on OSHA forms and report fatalities within eight hours and hospitalizations, amputations, or eye losses within twenty-four hours.

1926 Subpart C duties requiring employers to provide safe working conditions, train employees, designate competent persons, and maintain accident prevention responsibilities on construction sites.