FAR 52.236-13—Accident Prevention.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.236-13, Accident Prevention, is the construction safety clause used to protect people, property, and contract performance from avoidable hazards. It requires the contractor to maintain safe work environments and procedures that safeguard the public, Government personnel, property, materials, supplies, and equipment; avoid interruptions to Government operations and delays in completion; and control performance costs. For construction and demolition-type work, it adds specific safety obligations such as barricades, signs, signal lights, compliance with OSHA standards in 29 CFR parts 1910 and 1926, and any additional safety measures the Contracting Officer reasonably requires. For Department of Defense construction, demolition, dismantling, or removal work, it also incorporates compliance with the latest EM 385-1-1 safety manual in effect on the solicitation date. The clause gives the Contracting Officer authority to act when noncompliance or an imminent danger is identified, including oral notice with written confirmation, immediate corrective action, and stop-work orders without entitlement to equitable adjustment for the resulting delay. It also requires flowdown to subcontracts. Alternate I adds a pre-work safety planning requirement for long-duration or hazardous work, including a written hazard analysis and a meeting with the Contracting Officer’s representatives to establish a shared understanding of safety program administration.
Key Rules
General safety duty
The contractor must provide and maintain work environments and procedures that protect the public, Government personnel, and Government property and resources. The clause is not limited to worker safety; it also focuses on preventing disruption and controlling contract costs.
Construction-specific safeguards
On construction, demolition, dismantling, or removal contracts, the contractor must provide appropriate barricades, signs, and signal lights. The contractor must also comply with the Secretary of Labor’s standards at 29 CFR parts 1910 and 1926 and implement any additional safety measures the Contracting Officer reasonably determines are necessary.
DoD EM 385-1-1 compliance
For covered Department of Defense work, the contractor must comply with the pertinent provisions of the latest EM 385-1-1 manual in effect on the solicitation date. This requirement is in addition to OSHA-based obligations and can be more specific or more stringent.
Corrective action and stop-work authority
If the Contracting Officer learns of noncompliance or a serious or imminent danger, the Contracting Officer must notify the contractor orally and confirm in writing, then request immediate corrective action. If the contractor does not promptly correct the problem, the Contracting Officer may stop all or part of the work, and the contractor is not entitled to a price adjustment or schedule extension for that stop-work order under this clause.
Subcontract flowdown
The contractor must insert the clause, including paragraph (e), into subcontracts with appropriate changes in party designations. This ensures safety obligations and enforcement mechanisms extend down the contracting chain.
Alternate I safety plan
For long-duration or hazardous work, or work on a Government facility involving hazardous materials or operations, Alternate I requires a written safety implementation plan before work begins. The plan must analyze significant hazards to life, limb, and property and explain how those hazards will be controlled, followed by a meeting with the Contracting Officer’s representatives to develop a mutual understanding of safety program administration.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Monitor the work for safety noncompliance or dangerous conditions; provide oral notice with written confirmation when a problem is identified; request immediate corrective action; and, if the contractor does not promptly correct the issue, issue a stop-work order for all or part of the work. The Contracting Officer may also determine and require additional safety measures reasonably necessary for the contract.
Contractor
Maintain safe work environments and procedures; protect the public, Government personnel, and Government property; avoid disruptions and delays; control costs; provide barricades, signs, and signal lights where required; comply with applicable OSHA standards and, for DoD work, EM 385-1-1; promptly correct unsafe conditions; submit a written safety plan and meet with Government representatives when Alternate I applies; and flow the clause down to subcontracts.
Subcontractors
Comply with the flowed-down safety requirements as incorporated by the prime contractor, including any applicable OSHA, EM 385-1-1, and project-specific safety measures. Their work must support the prime contractor’s overall obligation to maintain safe operations.
Agency / Government technical representatives
Advise the Contracting Officer when hazardous materials or hazardous operations on a Government facility make Alternate I appropriate, and participate in discussions of the contractor’s safety plan and administration of the overall safety program.
Practical Implications
This clause is broader than a basic workplace safety reminder: it creates a contract performance obligation tied to public protection, Government operations, and project schedule control.
Contractors should expect the Government to require project-specific safety measures beyond OSHA minimums when the Contracting Officer believes they are reasonably necessary.
For DoD projects, EM 385-1-1 can be a major compliance driver; contractors should verify the exact version in effect on the solicitation date and align their safety program early.
A stop-work order under this clause can be issued quickly and does not automatically entitle the contractor to extra time or money, so prompt corrective action is critical.
Prime contractors should make sure the clause is properly flowed down and that subcontractor safety practices are coordinated, documented, and enforced to avoid downstream violations.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 36.513 , insert the following clause: Accident Prevention (Nov 1991) (a) The Contractor shall provide and maintain work environments and procedures which will- (1) Safeguard the public and Government personnel, property, materials, supplies, and equipment exposed to Contractor operations and activities; (2) Avoid interruptions of Government operations and delays in project completion dates; and (3) Control costs in the performance of this contract. (b) For these purposes on contracts for construction or dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements, the Contractor shall- (1) Provide appropriate safety barricades, signs, and signal lights; (2) Comply with the standards issued by the Secretary of Labor at 29 CFR Part 1926 and 29 CFR Part 1910 ; and (3) Ensure that any additional measures the Contracting Officer determines to be reasonably necessary for the purposes are taken. (c) If this contract is for construction or dismantling, demolition or removal of improvements with any Department of Defense agency or component, the Contractor shall comply with all pertinent provisions of the latest version of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Safety and Health Requirements Manual, EM 385-1-1, in effect on the date of the solicitation. (d) Whenever the Contracting Officer becomes aware of any noncompliance with these requirements or any condition which poses a serious or imminent danger to the health or safety of the public or Government personnel, the Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor orally, with written confirmation, and request immediate initiation of corrective action. This notice, when delivered to the Contractor or the Contractor’s representative at the work site, shall be deemed sufficient notice of the noncompliance and that corrective action is required. After receiving the notice, the Contractor shall immediately take corrective action. If the Contractor fails or refuses to promptly take corrective action, the Contracting Officer may issue an order stopping all or part of the work until satisfactory corrective action has been taken. The Contractor shall not be entitled to any equitable adjustment of the contract price or extension of the performance schedule on any stop work order issued under this clause. (e) The Contractor shall insert this clause, including this paragraph (e), with appropriate changes in the designation of the parties, in subcontracts. (End of clause) Alternate I ( Nov 1991). If the contract will involve (a) work of a long duration or hazardous nature, or (b) performance on a Government facility that on the advice of technical representatives involves hazardous materials or operations that might endanger the safety of the public and/or Government personnel or property, add the following paragraph (f) to the basic clause: (f) Before commencing the work, the Contractor shall- (1) Submit a written proposed plan for implementing this clause. The plan shall include an analysis of the significant hazards to life, limb, and property inherent in contract work performance and a plan for controlling these hazards; and (2) Meet with representatives of the Contracting Officer to discuss and develop a mutual understanding relative to administration of the overall safety program.