General Requirements For Safety And Health

Technical Procedures Disclaimer

Prior to inclusion in GSA’s library of procedures, documents are reviewed by one or more qualified preservation specialists for general consistency with the Secretary of Interior Standards for rehabilitating historic buildings as understood at the time the procedure is added to the library. All specifications require project-specific editing and professional judgement regarding the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers are to serve as a general guideline and do not constitute a federal endorsement or determination that a product or method is the best or most current alternative, remains available, or is compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards. The library of procedures is intended to serve as a resource, not a substitute, for specification development by a qualified preservation professional.

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We’ve reviewed these procedures for general consistency with federal standards for rehabilitating historic buildings and provide them only as a reference. Specifications should only be applied under the guidance of a qualified preservation professional who can assess the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers serve as general guidelines and do not constitute a federal endorsement nor a determination that a product or method is the best alternative or compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards.

PART 1---GENERAL

1.01 SUMMARY

  1. This procedure includes general safety and health guidelines to follow when performing any construction or demolition work on a project.

1.02 REFERENCES

  1. Safety and health requirements should conform to the following:
    1. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):
      1. OSHA General Industry Safety and Health Standards (29 CFR 1910), Publication V2206; OSHA Construction Industry Standards (29 CFR 1926). One source of these regulations is OSHA Publication 2207, which includes a combination of both Parts 1910 and 1925 as they relate to construction safety and health. It is for sale by the Superintendent of Documents. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
      2. National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (40 CFR, Part 61).
    2. Federal Standard (Fed. Std):
      1. 313A: Material Safety Data Sheets, Preparation and the Submission of.

1.03 DEFINITIONS

  1. Hazardous Materials: Refer to hazardous and toxic materials/substances included in Subparts H and Z of 29 CFR 1910, and to others as additionally defined in Fed. Std. 313. Those most commonly encountered include asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS), explosives, and radioactive material, but may include others. The most likely products to contain asbestos are sprayed-on fireproofing, insulation, boiler lagging, and pipe covering.

1.04 SUBMITTALS

  1. Design Data/Test Reports/Certificates:
    1. Accident Reporting: A copy of each accident report, which the Contractor or subcontractors submit to their insurance carriers, shall be forwarded through the Construction Engineer to the Regional Historic Preservation Officer (RHPO) as soon as possible, but in no event later than seven (7) calendar days after the day the accident occurred.
    2. Permits: If hazardous materials are disposed of off site, submit copies of permits from applicable, Federal, State, or municipal authorities.
    3. Other Submittals: If agreed to in writing at the preconstruction safety meeting, other submittals shall be required. One such submittal which may be included is a plan of action for handling hazardous materials to contain the following:
      1. Number, type, and experience of employees to be used for the work.
      2. Description of how safety and health regulations and standards shall be met.
      3. Type of protective equipment and work procedures to be used.
      4. Emergency procedures for accidental spills or exposures.
      5. Procedures for disposing of or storing the toxic/hazardous materials.
      6. Identification of possible hazards, problems, and proposed control mechanisms.
      7. Protection of public or others not related to the operation.
      8. Interfacing and control of subcontractors, if any.
      9. Identifications of analysis, test demonstrations, and validation requirements.
      10. Method of certification for compliance.

1.05 QUALITY ASSURANCE:

  1. Regulatory
    1. Requirements: Compliance With Regulations: All work, including he handling of hazardous materials or the disturbance or dismantling of structures containing hazardous materials shall comply with the applicable requirements of 29 CFR 1926/1910. Work involving the disturbance or dismantling of asbestos or asbestos containing materials; the demolition of structure containing asbestos; and/or the disposal and removal of asbestos, shall also comply with the requirements of 40 CFR, Part 61, Subparts A and B. All work shall comply with applicable state and municipal safety and health requirements. Where there is a conflict between applicable regulations, the most stringent shall apply.
    2. Contractor Responsibility The Contractor shall assume full responsibility and liability for compliance with all applicable regulations pertaining to the health and safety of personnel during the execution of work, and shall hold the Government harmless for any action on his part or that of his employees or subcontractors, which results in illness, injury, or death.
    3. Inspections, Tests, and Reports: The required inspections, tests, and reports made by the Contractor, subcontractors, specially trained ntechnicians, equipment manufacturers, and others as required shall be at the Contractor's expense.
    4. Special facilities, devices, equipment, clothing, and similar items used by the Contractor in the execution of work shall comply with the applicable regulations.
    5. The Contractor shall bring to the attention of the RHPO any material suspected of being hazardous which he encounters during execution of the work. A determination will be made by the RHPO as to whether the Contractor shall perform tests to determine if the material is hazardous. If the RHPO directs the Contractor to Perform tests, and/or if the material is found hazardous and additional protective measures are needed, a contract may be required, subject to "Differing Site Conditions" clause of the General Conditions.
    6. Stop Work Orders: When the Contractor or his/her subcontractors are notified by the RHPO's representative(s) of any noncompliance with the provisions of the contract and the action(s) to be taken, the Contractor shall immediately, if so directed, or within 48 hours, after receipt of a notice of violation correct the unsafe or unhealthy condition. If the Contractor fails to comply promptly, all or any part of the work being performed by be stopped by the RHPO or his/her representative(s) with a "Stop Work Order". When, in the opinion of the RHPO or his/her representative(s), satisfactory corrective action has been taken to correct the unsafe and unhealthy condition, a start order will be given immediately. The Contractor shall not be allowed any extension of time or compensation for damages by reason of or in connection with such work stoppage.
    7. The Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to prevent injury to the public, building occupants, or damage to property of others. For the purposes of this contract, the public or building occupants shall include all persons not employed by the Contractor or a subcontractor working under his/her direction.
    8. Work shall not be performed in any area occupied by the public or Federal employees unless specifically permitted by the contract or the RHPO and unless adequate steps are taken for the protection of the public or Federal employees.
    9. Whenever practicable, the work area shall be fenced, barricaded, or otherwise blocked off from the public or building occupants to prevent unauthorized entry into the work area.
    10. Alternate Precautions: When the nature of the work prevents isolation of the work area and the public or building occupants may be in or pass through, under or over the work area, alternate precautions such as the posting of signs, the use of signal persons, the erection of barricades or similar protection around particularly hazardous operations shall be used as appropriate.
    11. Public Thoroughfare: When work is to be performed over a public thoroughfare such as a close, if possible, or other precautions taken such as the installation of screens or barricades. When the exposure to heavy falling objects exists, as during the erection of building walls or during demolition, special protection of the type detailed in 29 CFR 1910/1926 shall be provided.
    12. Fences and barricades shall be moved upon completion of the project, in accordance with local ordinance and to the satisfaction of the RHPO or his/her representative(s).
    13. Storing, positioning or use of equipment tools, materials, scraps, and trash in a manner likely to present a hazard to the public or building occupants by its accidental shifting, ignition, or other hazardous qualities is prohibited.
    14. Obstructions: No corridor, aisle, stairway, door, or exit shall be obstructed or used in such a manner as to encroach upon routes of ingress or egress utilized by the public or building occupants, or to present unsafe or unhealthy conditions to the public or building occupants.
  2. Pre-Construction Conference: Safety Meeting: Representatives of the Contractor shall meet with RHPO and his/her representative(s) prior to the start of repair, alternation or construction activities for the purpose of reviewing the Contractor's safety and health programs and discussing implementation of all safety and health provisions pertinent to the work to be performed under the contract. The Contractor shall be prepared to discuss, in detail, the measures he/she intends to take in order to control any unsafe or unhealthy conditions associated with the work to be contract. This meeting may be held in conjunction withthe pre-construction conference, if so directed by the RHPO. The conduct of this meeting is not contingent upona general pre-construction meeting. The level of detail for the safety meeting is dependent upon the nature of the work and the potential inherent hazards. The Contractor's principal on-site representative(s), the general superintendent and his/her safety representative(s) shall attend this meeting.

PART 2---PRODUCTS

[Not Applicable]

PART 3---EXECUTION

[Not Applicable]