OSHA's Employer Guide to Developing an AWAIR Program
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Minnesota Statutes § 182.653 subd. 8 requires that each employer in certain specified industries establish a safety and health program known as "A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR)" program.

 

Key to an AWAIR program is the establishment of the goals and objectives of your safety and health program. The goals should be clear and state what you want to achieve through your safety program. Objectives are specific actions you will take to reach the goals of your program.

 

Your AWAIR program must also describe:

 

1. How managers, supervisors and employees are responsible for implementing the program and how continued participation of management will be established, measured and maintained.

2. The methods used to identify, analyze and control new or existing hazards, conditions and operations.

3. How the plan will be communicated to all affected employees so they are informed of work-related hazards and controls.

4. How workplace accidents will be investigated and corrective action implemented.

5. How safe work practices and rules will be enforced.

 

Your program must be in writing and must address all five points.

You must review your program at least annually and document how the five points are applied in your company to achieve your goals and objectives.

 

The attached program is a sample AWAIR program. If you choose to use the sample program as a model, you must adapt it to fit your needs and your company. The sample program includes a checklist you can use to evaluate your worksite. The checklist is not all-inclusive, but lists some of basic safety and health issues commonly found at construction sites.

 

The checklist mentions the need for other programs. For example, if your company uses respirators, you will need a written respirator program that describes your specific use of and procedures for respiratory protection. Another example is the requirement for a competent person when scaffolds are being used. The checklist does not go into specifics regarding scaffold regulations because that person should know the required regulations.

 

Sample program

A workplace accident and injury reduction (AWAIR) program for [company name]

 

It is our policy at [company name] to ensure a healthy workplace for all employees. We have implemented the following safety and health program. Managers, supervisors and employees are all responsible for implementing this program. We have committed resources to ensure safety on our job sites. Our goal is to reduce the number of accidents and injuries, and that requires cooperation in all safety and health matters between employees, their fellow workers and management. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain an excellent safety record.

 

Employees are responsible for cooperation with all aspects of this safety and health program, including compliance with all rules and regulations for continuously practicing safety while on the job. The safety director, project managers, superintendents and supervisors have our full support in enforcing the provisions of this policy.

 

[Insert name and title] is our safety director. The director will report directly to the company president. All supervisors and liaisons will report safety concerns to the director. The site supervisors are responsible for safety and health at each worksite. Each site supervisor will choose an employee to act as the safety and health liaison for that site. Employees will report all safety and health concerns to their supervisors. The safety director will set up training programs and provide the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).

 

Management will set accountability measures for meeting safety and health responsibilities.

 

Safety will be planned into each site using the attached list as a starting point. Each site is unique. The Construction Site Safety Checklist will be used initially and adjusted for the specific location and job. The site checklist will be revised as the site changes. Supervisors will inspect each area of the worksite daily using the revised checklist. The safety director will make random site inspections and review the results with management.

 

Each employee will be trained about safety and health at the time of hire, at the start of each job and as needed.

 

Safety meetings will be scheduled at least monthly, with safety topics chosen by the safety director. Attendance is mandatory at all safety meetings. Tool-box meetings and other on-site safety meetings will be arranged by the supervisor biweekly or as needed. Safety suggestions and safety audits will be reviewed at that time.

 

The site supervisor will investigate all accidents and near-miss events. The site supervisor will write the accident report with assistance from the liaison. The written reports will note corrective or preventive action taken. Training or retraining will be done as needed.

 

The safety director will review all accident and near-miss reports, supervisor and site audits, and this program, and will make recommendations to management about how to improve the company’s safety and health efforts on an annual basis.

 

Safety is a very important part of our overall company program. A violation of our safety and health rules will be treated with the same disciplinary action as our other policies described in our company handbook under "Disciplinary actions" (i.e., drug abuse, absenteeism or tardiness).

 

Our employees are our most important asset. We are serious about safety and health and keeping you gainfully employed here at [company name].

 

Construction site safety checklist:

Trailer/site

First aid

Posting requirements (OSHA, WC, EEOC, wages, etc.)

Program review

Fire extinguishers

ERTK program

Site emergency plan

Site security plan

Environmental -- any special situations

Potable water and toilet facilities

Other

 

Public protection

Barricades

Flagging

Traffic controls

Other

 

Fire protection

Fire protection plan

Gas cylinders storage

Storage of flammable liquids

Welding equipment

Safety cans

Other

 

Housekeeping

Daily debris removal

Clear access to exits and stairs

Site areas clean

Cords in walkways

Adequate lighting

Other

 

Personal protective equipment

Respirator program

Ear protection

Eye protection

Footwear

Gloves

Hard hats

Proper clothing

Other

 

Electrical

GFCI

Grounding

No exposed live parts

Hard usage three-wire cords

Overhead lines

Other

 

Fall protection

Site fall protection plan

Floor holes

Wall openings

Guard rails

Stair rails

Perimeter rails

Harness and lanyards

Other

 

Excavation/trenches

Competent person

Gopher State One Call

Access/egress

Cave-in protection (slope or box)

 

Cranes

Condition

Load charts

Annual inspection

Frequent inspection/operator

Swing radius

Other

 

Ladders

Condition

Extends at least three-feet above

Secured

Other

 

Heavy equipment/tools

Forklift

Aerial lifts

Skid steer

Generators/compressors

Heaters

Other

 

Scaffolds

Competent person

Daily inspections

Mobile scaffold requirements

Fabricated frame scaffold requirements

Other

 

-- This list is not all-inclusive --