OSHA Regulations Effects on Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 109, Issue 2
Abstract
The financial consequences of the direct and indirect cost of construction accidents is large. Previous cost studies show that accidents add approximately 6.5% to the nation's construction expenditures. However, the data from the present investigation indicate there has been a reduction, during a 5 year interval (1976–1981), in the amount contractors perceive they spend for complying with OSHA rules and regulations. The decrease in terms of percentage of construction cost is from 2.8% to 1.4% for the ENR 400 firms and from 4.5% to 2.4% for the OCA (Ohio) contractors. The foregoing may be due, in part, to either a variation in OSHA enforcement methods, or a change in the standard operating procedures of contractors, or both reasons. Whatever the reason, contractors, both large and small, appear to have learned to cope with OSHA and feel that the associated rules and regulations are less of a monetary burden.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
“Construction Injuries Increased in 1977,” Engineering News‐Record, Vol. 201, No. 22, Nov., 30, 1978.
2.
“Fight Over OSHA Just Beginning,” Engineering News‐Record, Vol. 204, No. 18, May 1, 1980.
3.
Hinze, J., “The Effect of Middle Management on Safety in Construction,” Technical Report No. 209, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., 1976.
4.
Hinze, J., “Human Aspects of Construction Safety,” Journal of the Construction Division, ASCE, Vol. 107, No. CO1, Proc. Paper 16088, Mar., 1981, pp. 61–72.
5.
Hinze, J., “Turnover, New Workers, and Safety,” Journal of the Construction Division, ASCE, Vol. 104, No. CO4, Proc. Paper 14209, Dec., 1978, pp. 409–417.
6.
Hinze, J., and Harrison, C., “Safety Programs in Large Construction Firms,” Journal of the Construction Division, ASCE, Vol. 107, No. CO3, Sept., 1981, pp. 455–467.
7.
Hinze, J., and Pannullo, J., “Safety: Function of Job Control,” Journal of the Construction Division, ASCE, Vol. 104, No. CO2, Pròc. Paper 13841, June, 1978, pp. 241–249.
8.
Horst, T. L., “The Effect of Management on Safety in Construction: A Summary Report on Construction Safety Research at Stanford University,” Department of Civil Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., 1980.
9.
Improving Construction Safety Performance, The Business Roundtable, New York, N.Y., Report A‐3, Jan., 1982.
10.
“Jobsite Safety Record gives Competitive Advantages,” Bechtel News, Bechtel Group of Companies, Vol. 17, July, 1981.
11.
Koehn, E., Benson, R. E., Jr., and Shank, D., “Cost of Social and Environmental Regulations in Construction,” Journal of the Construction Division, ASCE, Vol. 104, No. CO2, Sept., 1978, pp. 117–122.
12.
Levitt, R., and Parker, H., “Reducing Construction Accidents—Top Management's Role,” Journal of the Construction Division, ASCE, Vol. 102, No. CO3, Proc. Paper 12384, Sept., 1976, pp. 465–478.
13.
“A Novel Safety Inspection Program Starts its Tests,” Engineering News‐Record, Vol. 202, No. 13, Mar. 29, 1979, pp. 56–57.
14.
“Occupational Fatalities in 1979,” OSHA News, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C., No. USDL‐80‐726, Nov., 1980.
15.
“Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in 1979,” OSHA News, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C., No. USDL‐80‐726, Nov., 1980.
16.
“Regulatory Reform gets a Setback,” Engineering News‐Record, Vol. 206, No. 26, June 25, 1981.
17.
Robinson, M. R., “Accident Cost Accounting as a Means of Improving Construction Safety,” Technical Report No. 242, Construction Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., 1979.
18.
“Ruhlin Rates OCA Safety Award,” Ohio Contractor, May, 1979, p. 11.
19.
“Safety Awards Presented,” The Belle River Beacon, Bechtel Power Corporation, Vol. 3, No. 6, June, 1981.
20.
“Safety Rates Increase,” Engineering News‐Record, Vol. 209, No. 22, Nov. 25, 1982.
21.
“Safety Record Improves,” Engineering News‐Record, Vol. 207, No. 24, Dec. 10, 1981.
22.
Samelson, N. M., “A Behavioral Approach to Safety in Construction,” presented at the October 27–31, 1980, ASCE Annual Convention and Exposition, held at Hollywood, Fla., Session No. 8.
23.
Samelson, N. M., “The Effect of Foremen on Safety in Construction,” Technical Report No. 219, Stanford University, Department of Civil Engineering, Stanford, Calif., 1977.
24.
“Second California Job gets own OSHA Program,” Engineering News‐Record, Vol. 207, No. 5, July 30, 1981, p. 81.
25.
“Self‐Inspection Program for Job Safety Expands,” Engineering News‐Record, Vol. 206, No. 23, June 4, 1981, p. 73.
26.
Turner, D. J., “Will OSHA Make the Construction Industry Safer?,” Civil Engineering, Vol. 42, No. 2, Feb., 1972.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jun 1, 1983
Published in print: Jun 1983
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.