Final answer:
Reinforcing steel must be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement, which is a significant risk in construction. Protective measures like rebar caps or bending the rebar prevent impalement and other injuries, in compliance with OSHA standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
All protruding reinforcing steel must be guarded primarily to eliminate the hazard of impalement, which is a severe occupational safety risk on construction sites. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it's necessary to guard any exposed steel rebar ends that could cause impalement to a falling worker. This protection is typically provided by using rebar caps or bending the rebar so it's not sticking straight up. Furthermore, these safety measures help prevent other injuries such as cuts, abrasions, or puncture wounds that may result from contact with the exposed ends of reinforcing steel.
It is also important to note that worker safety is a paramount concern and addressing such hazards is in accordance with OSHA's standards. These standards are designed to protect workers from a wide range of serious hazards on sites. For example, OSHA has provided guidelines that not only include fall protection but also requirements for preventing trenching cave-ins and ensuring the safety of workers who enter confined spaces.