Description: Develop an understanding as to how OSHA is enforcing construction site safety regulations against design professionals and how to reduce exposure for OSHA violations. Obtain specific guidance on how to respond to different types of observed safety conditions. Obtain contract formation and contract management guidance on implementing project procedures that minimize a design professional’s exposure for site safety accidents and violations and increase the protection to the public from construction safety problems.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss with owners and your firm’s site representatives important liability issues relating to construction site safety.

2. Provide guidance on dealing with site representatives of the owner and contractor relating to construction site safety with the objective of reducing the risk of site accidents.

3. Implement contracting and professional practice techniques to reduce owner and design professional liability for construction site accidents and violations, including guidance on professional work product preparation and review/approval activities.

Howard Ashcraft is a senior partner in the Construction Law Group at Hanson Bridgett in San Francisco, California. Mr. Ashcraft represents designers, owners and contractors in project formation, professional practice and construction disputes. He is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, an Arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association’s Large and Complex Case Panel and former Governing Committee members of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry. He is currently outside General Counsel to Terra Insurance Company, a Risk Retention Group of geotechnical and environment engineering firms.