OSHA’s 1st LOI of 2013 is a perfect example of how a how a group of workers may fall under both GI and Construction standards

Experienced safety professional will often admit it took them years before realizing that a “general industry” workplace can fall under construction standards (1926) and vice-versa.  I know I was well into my career before I came to understand this and once it was explained to me I could see how my maintenance team could fall under both standards depending on the actual work they were performing.  Fall protection is one such issue that can sneak up on us:  general industry the height at which fall protection begins is 4′ and when doing “construction work” it is 6′.  But OSHA has now provided an even better example in their latest LOI regarding digging a gravesite vs. using equipment to lower the coffin into the grave.  Although not meant to explain these differences, it is a perfect example of how a single work group would need to apply different standards to their safety to ensure OSHA compliance.

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