Celebrating Building Safety Month

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)-May is Building Safety Month, a time of year that is near and dear to many of us here at the Ohio Department of Commerce. Though this year is the 42nd annual Building Safety Month, the history dates back to 2200 B.C. and the Code of Hammurabi, king of the Babylonian Empire.

The Division of Industrial Compliance upholds this tradition of building safety through several of our bureaus and boards. The Bureau of Building Code Compliance (BCC) administers the Ohio Building Code and works with the Ohio Board of Building Appeals and the Ohio Board of Building Standards to facilitate appeal hearings and interpret the code.

Probably the most hands-on way DIC works to ensure building safety is through our inspectors. They are our eyes and ears in the field making sure that new or renovated construction meets required standards, and that current systems are maintained. Here are some of the most common violations that we see in public buildings here in Ohio:

• Work on a building is completed but doesn't match the approved plans. If BCC approves the plans, the building has to follow them to pass inspection.
• Not having the required work open for inspection. You've done all the work, now all that's left is to let us come in and sign off. It's a final, but very necessary step to make sure everything is safe and secure.
• Work being done without approval or an application for approval. Any alteration or addition to an existing building that isn't regular maintenance requires approval, even if it seems minor.
In addition to actual construction, building owners should also pay attention to the following items to stay safe:
• Maintenance is key! At least annually, test automatic sprinklers, fire alarms, and kitchen hood suppression systems.
• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms should be tested on a monthly basis. Replace the batteries every year!
• Furnace rooms and electrical rooms are designated for these purposes, please do not use them for storage.
• Exit doors should not be blocked and should not have any padlocks or crossbars. Believe it or not, we have been on countless inspections where exit doors don't function.
• Make sure exit signs and emergency lights are tested monthly. These typically have internal batteries to make sure they work during an emergency or power loss, but testing them is important. Exit signs should be lit at all times!

One week of Building Safety Month focuses on Building Safety Careers. Here at DIC, we've noticed that staff positions are hard to fill, not only because of the specialized nature of our inspectors and plans examiners, but because people aren't necessarily choosing a career in trades. I often refer to trade schools as "the other four-year degree," and students can come out of apprenticeships and other tech programs making an extremely comfortable living wage with less debt than traditional four-year educations.

For more information about DIC or available positions within Commerce as a whole, visit com.ohio.gov.

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The Division of Industrial Compliance is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.