OSHA can cite general contractors who fail to control hazardous conditions at multi-employer worksites, even if those conditions do not directly affect their own employees, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit recently ruled.
The decision will prompt a review of a 2017 case in which a Denver Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Commission administrative judge ruled that GCs cannot be held liable for the safety violations of subcontractors. The Appeals Court said that the case law on which the OSH judge based the decision was obsolete.
The 5th Circuit said more recent rulings have indicated that a general contractor could be held responsible for safety on the multi-employer site as a “controlling employer.”
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jan 9, 2019
Policymakers need to act to alleviate affordable housing crunch
Moody’s economist says costs including mortgage rates worsening situation.
Codes and Standards | Jan 8, 2019
Pittsburgh launches task force on construction industry fraud
Focus will be on wage violations.
Codes and Standards | Jan 7, 2019
Program uses low-cost sensors to monitor impact of stormwater mitigation systems
University/municipal partnership in Philadelphia aims to improve green infrastructure design.
Codes and Standards | Jan 7, 2019
Washington, D.C., to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2032
Includes measures to reduce emissions from buildings and transportation.
Codes and Standards | Jan 4, 2019
Canada’s National Building Code will include climate change obligations
New durability requirements for new buildings in the works.
Codes and Standards | Jan 4, 2019
LEED v4.1 beta registration begins in January
First releases are O+M, BD+C, and ID+C.
Codes and Standards | Jan 3, 2019
Tall mass timber code changes receive final approval
New provisions to be included in the 2021 International Building Code.
Codes and Standards | Jan 2, 2019
ASHRAE’s Low-Rise Residential Buildings standard update now available
Performance measures are at least 50% more efficient than 2006 IECC.
Codes and Standards | Jan 2, 2019
Study compares labor hours for various low-slope roofing options
Type of roof covering, project parameters, tool management, and crew efficiency all impact profitability.
Codes and Standards | Dec 20, 2018
New York’s ‘Scaffold Law’ under fire for driving up project costs
Lawmakers under pressure to reform law that makes contractors 100% liable for work-site injuries.
