Originally published: March 05, 2012 Updated: November 06, 2026 8 min read. Author: Niall O’Malley A confined space needs a permit when something inside it could kill or seriously hurt the person who goes in. That means a hazardous atmosphere, material that could bury them, a shape that could trap them, or another serious […]
Duties of Confined Space Team Members Originally published: April 24, 2012 Updated: October 23, 2025 5 min read. Author: Niall O’Malley No worker should enter a permit-required confined space without the right support team in place. OSHA mandates three distinct roles — Entrant, Attendant, and Supervisor — each with specific, non-negotiable duties designed to keep […]
General contractors can be cited for subcontractor training violations under OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy (CPL 2-0.124), even when their own employees aren’t exposed. Controlling employers must verify subcontractor training credentials before site access through QR code scanning or ATO contact, document verification, and maintain systems that demonstrate reasonable care. Training verification isn’t optional. Under the […]
About 65 percent (2.3 million) of all construction workers in the United States depend on competent and safe scaffold erection, assembly and safety training. Current OSHA standards for scaffolds have been in effect since 1996 and are published in 29 CFR 1926, Subpart L. Key to those new standards is the presence of a competent person “capable of […]
A recent Lancaster, PA Intelligencer Journal on line article illustrates how companies need to pay attention to scaffold safety training: “The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants to fine a Refton stone contractor $154,000 for allegedly unsafe scaffolding practices.” An OSHA inspector happened to be driving by a Schuykill County construction site and found a whopping eight […]
Undoubtedly not the most pleasant reading for construction contractors, OSHA periodically publishes horror stories of fines for violations of safety rules. Specifically, in its OSHA Regional News Release last January we learned that one Hartford, Conn., construction company was slapped with a whopping $169,000 fine “chiefly for exposing its workers to cave-in hazards while repairing a sewer […]
Looking for training courses that our 100% online? Visit our competent person course catalog. The Competent Person is arguably one of the most underused safety personnel on any given job site. Yet it is one of the most referenced responsibilities in construction regulations and many employers don’t realize that one is required on every job […]
