The construction industry is heavily regulated, and that is also for good reason. Industry regulations are put in place to prevent injuries and fatalities on job sites and ensure safety for everyone. When construction companies don’t obey government regulations, they could end up subject to penalties and even fines. Here is the list of compliance requirements that every construction company needs to know and how to follow them.

OSHA Standards
Many construction compliance regulations are defined and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA. OSHA has extensive and well-defined standards for construction sites that every construction contractor must familiarize themselves with.

OSHA standards mainly focus on safety within the workplace and at construction sites. For insurance, construction employers are required to provide their teams with goggles, helmets, and other protective equipment on their working site. They are also required to provide harnesses, guardrails, and other fall protection measures when working at a certain height.

Wage and Employment Regulations
As with any employer in the United States, construction companies need to follow fair wage and employment regulations. For example, construction companies and their subcontractors need to adhere to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to ensure that background checks are fairly done during the hiring process. The EEOC also has laws preventing other discriminatory hiring practices.

Additionally, construction sites have to adhere to regulations from the US Department of Labor and their state labor departments related to pay and scheduling. These regulations ensure that employees get paid a minimum wage and that paychecks happen on time. Construction sites also have to adhere to scheduling restrictions, which limit the amount of time an employee can legally work without receiving overtime.

Lien Regulations
Lien regulations ensure that contractors can take legal action if they are not paid for the work they have done. If a contractor isn’t paid for their work within a certain amount of time, they can file a lien to receive their respective funds. Lien laws vary from state to state. They are very important to understand if you work with subcontractors, as you will want to avoid unexpected liens.

Commercial Construction Planning, Insurance Regulations
All construction professionals must have appropriate insurance coverage. Insurance regulations vary from state to state. Failing to adhere to insurance regulations can come with strict and heavy penalties, so it is important to familiarize yourself with them before you even start any construction project.

Building Codes
Building codes are the standards codes that specify how structures need to be built to ensure the buildings are safe. Building codes typically address things like fire hazards, electrical wiring, plumbing, and internal structural support. Each city and state have its own building codes, and they are updated on a frequent basis, so make sure to familiarize yourself with them in order to avoid any issues later.

Failing to comply with these regulations can cause serious problems for construction companies. Not being compliant can result in heavy fines and damage to the company’s reputation. In most serious cases, a lack of compliance can result in dangerous working conditions.