Construction Subpart C: General Safety & Health Provisions
Subpart C of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR 1926.20 through 1926.35) sets the basic rules every construction employer must follow, no matter what trade. Many citations start here, and these sections support more specific rules for ladders, scaffolds, excavation and others. Knowing Subpart C helps you understand what “a safe job site” requires at a minimum.
- Construction Employers
- Superintendents & Foremen
- Safety Managers
- Workers
What's in Subpart C
| Section | Topic | Main idea |
|---|---|---|
| 1926.20 | General safety and health provisions | Employers must initiate and maintain programs for safety, with frequent and regular inspections by competent persons, and not use unsafe machines, tools and equipment |
| 1926.21 | Safety training and education | Instruct each employee in recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions and in applicable regulations |
| 1926.23 | First aid and medical attention | Provide first aid and medical services, with trained first aid personnel available as the standard requires |
| 1926.24 | Fire protection and prevention | Fire protection program, firefighting equipment and prevention measures throughout the job |
| 1926.25 | Housekeeping | Keep work areas free of debris, scrap lumber with protruding nails and combustible waste; dispose of waste regularly |
| 1926.26 | Illumination | Adequate lighting for construction areas, as the standard's table specifies |
| 1926.28 | Personal protective equipment | Employers must require appropriate PPE where there is a need |
| 1926.29 | Acceptable certifications | Rules about recognized certifications for some equipment |
| 1926.32 | Definitions | Defines terms such as “competent person,” “qualified,” “employer” and “authorized person” |
| 1926.33 | Access to employee exposure and medical records | Workers and their representatives can get exposure and medical records |
| 1926.34 | Means of egress | Safe, unobstructed exits from work areas and buildings under construction |
| 1926.35 | Employee emergency action plans | Written or oral plans for emergencies, where the standard requires them |
Some numbers are reserved or have been replaced over time. Check the current text at osha.gov for the exact wording. See Construction Standards (1926) and Reading a Standard.
Key requirements in plain language
- Employer responsibility (1926.20(a)): no contractor or subcontractor may require an employee to work in surroundings or under conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to health or safety. Employers must have safety programs. See Employer Responsibilities and Safety Programs.
- Frequent inspections (1926.20(b)(2)): the standard requires frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials and equipment by competent persons designated by the employer. See Competent & Qualified Persons.
- Unsafe tools and equipment (1926.20(b)(4)): the use of any machine, tool, material or equipment that does not comply with the applicable requirements is prohibited. Such items must be identified as unsafe by tagging or locking the controls or removed from the job site. See Tagging Out Damaged Tools.
- Training (1926.21): employers must instruct each employee in recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions, and in the regulations that apply to their work environment to control or eliminate hazards. Specific training (such as for confined spaces, poisonous plants and caustic chemicals) is included. See OSHA Training Requirements.
- First aid (1926.23 and 1926.50): arrange medical attention and first aid, with trained responders where no hospital or clinic is in near proximity. See First Aid Basics and Emergencies at Remote Worksites.
- Fire protection (1926.24): have a fire protection program and keep it up through the job. See Fire Prevention.
- Housekeeping (1926.25): remove form and scrap lumber with protruding nails, and combustible scrap and debris, regularly. Keep waste from piling up in work areas. See Walking-Working Surfaces.
- PPE (1926.28): require appropriate PPE where there's a hazard. More specific PPE rules are in Subpart E. See PPE Hazard Assessment.
- Records (1926.33): workers can see their exposure and medical records. See Access to Records.
- Egress and emergency plans (1926.34 and 1926.35): keep exits clear and have emergency action plans that cover alarms, evacuation and who does what. See Emergency Action Plans.
Why it matters in practice
- OSHA often cites Subpart C together with more specific standards when there's a lack of inspections, training or tagging of defective tools. See Top 10 Violations and Citation Types.
- Competent person inspections and documentation help show the employer exercised reasonable diligence. See Written Programs.
- Multi-employer sites: general contractors and others may share responsibility for hazards. See Multi-Employer Worksites.
- Subpart C applies to all construction work, including small jobs. See Small Contractors.
What workers and supervisors can do
- Ask for training when you don't understand a hazard or task, and speak up about unsafe tools and conditions. See Worker Rights.
- Tag and report damaged or unsafe equipment and don't use it.
- Keep your area clean and clear, and know exits, extinguishers and the emergency plan.
- Supervisors should do and document daily and weekly inspections and fix findings quickly.
- Know your PPE requirements and use PPE correctly.
Subpart C checklist
- We have a safety program and competent persons inspect the site regularly
- Workers are trained to recognize and avoid hazards, and training is recorded
- Unsafe tools and equipment are tagged or removed from service
- First aid, fire protection, housekeeping and lighting are in place
- Exits are clear, PPE is used and an emergency action plan exists
Standards & references
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