Introduction to Roller-Compacted Concrete - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Surveyors and Architects

OSHA Safety Requirements for Construction (Part 1)

Course Outline

Each year, hundreds of construction fatalities occur as a result of falls. Design professionals can minimize fall hazards by getting familiar with the OSHA safety regulations and promoting design for construction safety. This webinar series provide a general overview of the OSHA safety regulations (Standards – 29 CFR Part 1926) for the construction industries. The first part of the series focuses on Subpart M - Fall Protection and Subpart R - Steel Erection, and highlights the primary impact of the OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection on the design practice of structural engineers and architects.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will be familiar with the OSHA steel erection regulation regarding:

Site layout and construction sequence;
Site-specific erection plan;
Hoisting and rigging ;
Structural steel assembly;
Column anchorage;
Beams and columns;
Open web steel joists;
Systems-engineered metal buildings;
Falling object protection;
Fall protection; and
Training.

In addition, the student will understand

Terminology related to steel erection; Applications of OSHA rules;
Importance of safety planning; and
Primary impact of the OSHA steel erection rules on the engineering practice.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for engineers, architects and contructors who are involved in the design or construction of steel structures.

Course Introduction

On January 18, 2001, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the new Safety Standards for Steel Erection (Final Rules) in the Federal Register (Vol. 66, No. 12). On July 13, 2001, OSHA announced that its final steel erection standard would go into effect January 18, 2002 in the OSHA National News Release. The original effective date was July 18, 2001.

The new OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection (the Standard) is much more extensive and detailed than the last edition, which focused almost exclusively on the erectors. The new Standard requires participation of engineers, fabricators, erectors and contractors.

Course Content

According to OSHA, the new Safety Standards for Steel Erection (the Standard), developed in concert with industry and union groups, is expected to prevent 30 fatalities and 1,142 injuries annually and save employers nearly $40 million a year.

The Standard enhances protections provided to ironworkers by addressing the hazards that have been identified as the major causes of injuries and fatalities in the steel erection industry. These are hazards associated with working under loads; hoisting, landing and placing decking; column stability; double connections; landing and placing steel joints; and falls to lower levels.

Scope of the Standard

The scope of the Standard applies to steel erection activities involved in the construction, alternation, and/or repair of single and multi-story buildings, bridges and other structures. It also applies to other structural materials, such as plastics and composites, when they resemble structural steel in their usage. However, the Standard does not cover electrical transmission towers, communication and broadcast towers, or tanks.

Definitions

The Standard Section 1926.751 provides detailed definitions of all the terminology used in the Standard. The following definitions are of particular interest to structural engineers:

Column means a load-carrying vertical member that is part of the primary skeletal framing system. Columns do not include posts.

Competent person (also defined in Sec. 1926.32) means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

Double connection means an attachment method where the connection point is intended for two pieces of steel which share common bolts on either side of a central piece.

Double connection seat means a structural attachment that, during the installation of a double connection, supports the first member while the second member is connected. Erection bridging means the bolted diagonal bridging that is required to be installed prior to releasing the hoisting cables from the steel joists.

Post means a structural member with a longitudinal axis that is essentially vertical, that: (1) weighs 300 pounds or less and is axially loaded (a load presses down on the top end), or (2) is not axially loaded, but is laterally restrained by the above member. Posts typically support stair landings, wall framing, mezzanines and other substructures.

Project structural engineer of record means the registered, licensed professional responsible for the design of structural steel framing and whose seal appears on the structural contract documents.

Qualified person (also defined in Sec. 1926.32) means one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.

Shear connector means headed steel studs, steel bars, steel lugs, and similar devices which are attached to a structural member for the purpose of achieving composite action with concrete.

Steel erection means the construction, alteration or repair of steel buildings, bridges and other structures, including the installation of metal decking and all planking used during the process of erection.

Steel joist means an open web, secondary load-carrying member of 144 feet (43.9 m) or less, designed by the manufacturer, used for the support of floors and roofs. This does not include structural steel trusses or cold-formed joists.

Steel joist girder means an open web, primary load-carrying member, designed by the manufacturer, used for the support of floors and roofs. This does not include structural steel trusses.

Steel truss means an open web member designed of structural steel components by the project structural engineer of record. For the purposes of this subpart, a steel truss is considered equivalent to a solid web structural member.

Structural steel means a steel member, or a member made of a substitute material (such as, but not limited to, fiberglass, aluminum or composite members). These members include, but are not limited to, steel joists, joist girders, purlins, columns, beams, trusses, splices, seats, metal decking, girts, and all bridging, and cold formed metal framing which is integrated with the structural steel framing of a building.

Systems-engineered metal building means a metal, field-assembled building system consisting of framing, roof and wall coverings. Typically, many of these components are cold-formed shapes. These individual parts are fabricated in one or more manufacturing facilities and shipped to the job site for assembly into the final structure. The engineering design of the system is normally the responsibility of the systems-engineered metal building manufacturer.

Impact on Structural Design

The primary impact of the Standard on the design practice of the project structural engineer of record is summarized as followings:

1. Column Stability (see definition for column above)

Columns are required to have a minimum of (4) anchor bolts.
Column anchor bolts, column splices and column foundation are required to be capable of supporting a 300 pound eccentric load at the column top located 18 inches from the extreme outer face of the column in each direction.
Repair, replacement or field modification of anchor bolts is not permitted without the approval of the project structural engineer of record.
Posts (see definition above) are not required to have (4) anchor bolts.

2. Double Connections (see definition above)

Double connections through column webs or at beams that frame over the tops of columns in the case of cantilevered construction must be designed to have at least one installed bolt remain in place to support the first beam while the second beam is being erected. Alternatively, the fabricator must supply a seat or equivalent device with a means of positive attachment to support the first beam while the second beam is being erected.

3. Open Web Steel Joists (see definition above)

Strut joists at or near columns must be bolted to their supporting members.
Joist stabilizer plates are required on the column to stabilize the joist bottom chord where columns are strutted with joists. A 13/16" diameter hole is required on the joist stabilizer plate to provide an attachment point for guying or plumbing cable.
Erection bridging must be shown on the steel joist erection plans.
Unless panelized, all steel joists 40' or longer and their supporting members must have holes to allow for initial connections by bolting. The designer must take the bolting requirements into consideration in beam design.
Steel joist may not be modified without the approval of the project structural engineer of record.

4. Tripping Hazards

The shop placement of shear connectors (such as headed steel studs, steel bars or steel lugs), reinforcing bars, deformed anchors or threaded studs is prohibited where they would obstruct the walking surface of beams, joists or beam attachments. An example of walking surface during construction is the top flange of beams.
Shear connectors on composite floors, roofs and bridge decks shall be installed after the metal decking has been installed.

5. Roof and Floor Holes and Openings

Framed metal deck openings shall have structural members turned down to allow continuous deck installation except where not allowed by structural design constraints or constructibility.
Metal decking holes and openings shall not be cut until immediately prior to being permanently filled with the equipment or structure needed or intended to fulfill its specific use, or shall be immediately covered.
Covers for roof and floor openings shall be capable of supporting, without failure, twice the weight of the workers, equipment and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time.
All covers shall be secured when installed to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment or workers.

6. Column Splice Locations

It is recommended to locate column splices every 2 floors so that the fall distance does not exceed 30 feet during erection.

7. Slip Resistance of Skeletal Structural Steel Members

After July 18, 2006, workers will not be permitted to walk the top surface of any structural steel member that has been coated with paint or similar material unless documentation or certification that the coating has achieved a minimum average slip resistance of .50 when measured with an English XL tribometer or equivalent tester on a wetted surface at a testing laboratory is provided.

8. System-Engineered Metal Building (see definition above)

All of the requirements of the Standard are applicable to the erection of system-engineered metal building except Secs. 1926.755 (column anchorage) and 1926.757 (open web steel joists).
There are several additional safety requirements for this type of buildings.

In order to protect the safety of ironworkers, structural engineers, architects and contractors shall get familiar with the new OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection, which can be downloaded from the Related Links below.

Course Summary

This course highlights the primary impact of the new OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection on the design practice of structural engineers. To protect the safety of ironworkers during construction, structural engineers, architects and contractors must adhere to the OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection during both design and construction phases of the project.

Chapter 5 - Definitions and Photos (Inspection policy and procedures for OSHA's steel erection standards for construction) (3.5 MB, PDF)

New OSHA Erection Rules: How They Affect Engineers, Fabricators & Contractors
An article on Modern Steel Construction (115KB, PDF)

Because this course is offered as a "live" course, you are required to attend the webinar at the scheduled time and date. Please check the Webinar Schedule under course description on our website for scheduled meeting date and time. We will send you an invitation to the webinar through email approximately 24 hours before the webinar (confirmation of the receipt of the invitation is required). The certificate of completion will not be issued unless you attend the webinar and pass a quiz. Thank you for your cooperation.

Quiz

Before you attend the webinar, you need to print the quiz questions from your browser for the discussion during the webinar. At the end of the webinar, you need to complete the quiz and submit your answers to obtain the PDH credit (quiz deadline: midnight on the webinar date).

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.