KY-OSHA and the application of it’s PRCS standard for Construction

When people say, “safety is just common sense,” I wish we could slap them.  Working for a client in KY, I have identified so much that is different between their state plan and the federal OSHA requirements.  Some of the differences just do not make sense and I am sure there are some political forces behind the lack of “risk sense” in these differences.  For example, I celebrated when Federal OSHA published their Construction Standard on Confined Spaces; so much so that the base-program I share with clients, why by the way are all General Industry businesses, is built off the newer construction standard and not 1910.146.  And as we learned from OSHA, it is not the actual classification of the business, BUT RATHER by the work being done inside the space is what establishes the applicable standard.  Well, at least that is what Federal says; KY-OSHA has a different slant…

Section 2. Application and Scope.

(1) This regulation applies only to those confined spaces, as defined in Section 1(1) of this regulation, which are not specifically covered by other regulations adopted by this chapter, such as in the construction industry standards, 29 CFR 1926.

(2) This administrative regulation does not apply to agricultural production operations.

(3) This regulation does not apply to employers in general industry who are covered by 29 CFR 1910.146, “Permit-Required Confined Spaces”, as adopted by 803 KAR 2:309.

(4) This regulation does not preempt any specific applicable regulation.

 

Here is what Federal OSHA has said regarding the applicability of the standards…

Questions for those in General Industry work places about when the new Construction Confined Space standard would apply

Also, see:  See FAQ #4 https://www.osha.gov/confined-spaces-construction/faq

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