Construction Special Emphasis Program
The North Carolina Special Emphasis Programs (SEPs) are part of the NC OSH Division's five year strategic management plan for which its two principal goals are: 1) to reduce the state's workplace fatality rate by at least 2%; and 2) to reduce the state's non-fatal injury and illness rate by at least 5%. For each SEP that applies to a specific industrial sector, similar goals for reducing the fatality rate and/or non-fatal injury and illness rate are applied.
SEP: Construction
What are the goals of the construction special emphasis program?
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To reduce workplace fatalities in affected counties and high activity counties.
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To reduce workplace injury and illness rates in affected counties and high activity counties.
What is meant by the terms "affected county" and "high activity county"?
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An "affected county" is one in which more than one incident has occurred which resulted in a fatality.
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A "high activity county (HAC)" is determined by the total number of building permits statewide divided by 100 (the number of NC counties) to get an average. Any county above the statewide average for building permits will be considered a high activity county.
What industries are covered by this SEP?
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NAICS 23 - construction
What are the principal hazard categories on which this SEP is focused?
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Falls (see Fall Protection)
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Electrical (see Electrical Safety)
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Struck-by
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Caught-in/between
In addition, the Big Four Hazards in Construction webpage can provide additional information about these hazards.
What regulations are most applicable to this SEP?
OSH has adopted the following regulations that govern the requirements for protection against the four leading causes of fatalities in construction. Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic.
Construction
- 29 CFR 1926.21 - safety training and education
- 29 CFR 1926.104 - safety belts, lifelines and lanyards
- 29 CFR 1926.105 - safety nets
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K - electrical
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L - scaffolds
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M - fall protection
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart O - motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, and marine operations
- 29 CFR 1926.601 - motor vehicles - paragraph (b)(4)(i): requirement for audible backup alarms
- 29 CFR 1926.602 - material handling equipment - paragraph (a)(9): requirement for audible alarms and horns
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P - excavations
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart R - steel erection
- 29 CFR 1926.760 - fall protection
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart V - electric power transmission and distribution
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA - confined spaces in construction
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC - cranes and derricks in construction
Other Applicable Standards
The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can also help identify other standards that may be applicable to your worksite.
Where can I learn more about this SEP?
Compliance Documents
- Operational Procedure Notice: OPN 96, Focused Inspection in Construction, describes the conduct of inspections and related activity under this SEP.
- Operational Procedure Notice: OPN 123 - Special Emphasis Program for Construction Activities establishes a Special Emphasis Program to decrease fatalities related to the construction industry.
Fact Sheets
- NCDOL Investigates Communication Towers; Fact sheet on the investigation process for communication towers.
- NCDOL Investigates Fall from Ladder; Fact sheet on the investigation process for a fall from a ladder.
- NCDOL Investigates Fall from Roof; Fact sheet on the investigation process for fall from roof.
- NCDOL Investigates Fall From Scaffolding; Fact sheet on investigation process for fall from scaffolding.
- NCDOL Investigates Heat Stress Event; Fact sheet on investigation process on heat stress event.
- NCDOL Investigates Overhead Power Lines; Fact sheet on investigation for overhead power lines.
- NCDOL Investigates Struck By Truck; Fact sheet on investigation process for being struck by a truck.
- NCDOL Investigates Trench Collapse; Fact sheet on the investigation process for a trench collapse.
- NCDOL Investigates Crane Accident; Fact sheet on the investigation process for a crane accident.
Safety and Health Topics
Additional resources related to this SEP can be found on the safety and health topic pages including cranes and derricks, fall protection, highway work zone safety, electrical safety, scaffolds, respiratory protection, stairways and ladders, steel erection, excavation and trenching, silica, heat stress, amputations, concrete and masonry construction, confined spaces and personal protective equipment.