CHAPTER   1.

GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1-1.  OVERVIEW.

Hazardous practices and marginal conditions created by construction activities can decrease or jeopardize operational safety on airports. To minimize disruption of normal aircraft operations and to avoid situations that compromise the airport’s operational safety, the airport operator must carefully plan, schedule, and coordinate construction activities. While the guidance in this Publication is primarily used for construction operations, some of the methods and procedures described may also enhance day to- day maintenance operations.

1-2. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION.

An airport operator has overall responsibility for construction activities on an airport. This includes the predesign, design, preconstruction, construction, and inspection phases. Additional information on these responsibilities can be found throughout this Publication.

  1. Airport operator’s responsibilities
    1. Develop internally or approve a construction safety plan developed by an outside consultant/contractor that complies with the safety guidelines in Chapter 2, “Safety Plans,” and Appendix 2, “Airport Construction Safety Planning Guide,” of this Publication.
    2. Require contractors to submit plans indicating how they intend to comply with the safety requirements of the project.
    3. Convene a meeting with the construction contractor, consultant, airport employees, and, if appropriate, tenant sponsor to review and discuss project safety before beginning construction activity.
    4. Ensure contact information is accurate for each representative or point of contact identified in the safety plan. 
    5. Hold weekly or, if necessary, daily safety meetings to coordinate activities.
    6. Notify users, especially aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) personnel, of construction activity and conditions that may adversely affect the operational safety of the airport via Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) or other methods, as appropriate. Convene a meeting for review and discussion if necessary.
    7. Ensure that construction personnel know the applicable airport procedures and of changes to those procedures that may affect their work.
    8. Ensure that construction contractors and subcontractors undergo training required by the safety plan.
    9. Develop and/or coordinate a construction vehicle plan with airport tenants, the airport traffic control tower (ATCT), and construction contractors. Include the vehicle plan in the safety plan. See Chapter 2, section 2, of this Publication for additional information.
    10. Ensure tenants and contractors comply with standards and procedures for vehicle lighting, marking, access, operation, and communication.
    11. At certificated airports, ensure that each tenant’s construction safety plan is consistent with JCAR part 139, Certification and Operations of Land Airports.
    12. Conduct frequent inspections to ensure construction contractors and tenants comply with the safety plan and that altered construction activities do not create potential safety hazards.
    13. Resolve safety deficiencies immediately.
    14. Ensure construction access complies with the security requirements.
    15. Notify appropriate parties when conditions exist that invoke provisions of the safety plan (e.g., implementation of low-visibility operations).
  2. Construction contractor’s responsibilities
    1. Submit plans to the airport operator on how to comply with the safety requirements of the project.
    2. Have available a copy of the project safety plan.
    3. Comply with the safety plan associated with the construction project and ensure that construction personnel are familiar with safety procedures and regulations on the airport.
    4. Provide a point of contact who will coordinate an immediate response to correct any Construction-related activity that may adversely affect the operational safety of the airport.
    5. Provide a safety officer/construction inspector familiar with airport safety to monitor Construction activities.
    6. Restrict movement of construction vehicles to construction areas by flagging and barricading, erecting temporary fencing, or providing escorts, as appropriate.
    7. Ensure that no construction employees, employees of subcontractors or suppliers, or other persons enter any part of the air operations areas (AOAs) from the construction site unless authorized.
  3. Tenant’s responsibilities if planning construction activities on leased property
    1. Develop a safety plan, and submit it to the airport operator for approval prior to issuance of a Notice to Proceed.
    2. Provide a point of contact who will coordinate an immediate response to correct any construction-related activity that may adversely affect the operational safety of the airport.
    3. Ensure that no tenant or construction employees, employees of subcontractors or suppliers, or any other persons enter any part of the AOA from the construction site unless authorized.
    4. Restrict movement of construction vehicles to construction areas by flagging and barricading or erecting temporary fencing.