We at Executive Advantage are always looking for opportunities to come along side our clients and friends with helpful human resources information. This article on Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 is a basic overview of OSHA sent to you in order to help you learn more about complying with OSHA rules and regulations.
Employers must comply with all applicable OSHA standards. Employers must also comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSHA Act, which requires employers to keep their workplace free of serious recognized hazards.
There are OSHA standards for construction, agriculture, maritime and general industry. Employers also must comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSHA Act, which requires them to keep their workplaces free of serious recognized hazards. Employers must provide a workplace free of known health and safety hazards.
Here are some questions you might use to determine your relationship with OSHA.
Employer Responsibilities
Under the OSHA law, employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace. Take a few minutes to answer the following questions on your worksheet. We’ll meet after you’ve completed this task.
- Do you know the minimum standards you organization must meet to be in compliance?
- Do you have a policy that shares your commitment to provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSHA Act?
- Have you completed an examination of your workplace conditions to make sure they conform to applicable standards?
- Do you make sure your employees have and use safe tools and equipment and properly maintain this equipment?
- Have you updated your organization’s operating procedures and communicated them so that employees follow safety and health requirements during the past 12 months?
- Have you provided safety training in a language and with vocabulary workers can understand when you have placed a new machine into service?
- Do you know the reporting deadlines for reporting a work-related death?
- Does your organization have hazardous chemicals and have you developed and implemented a written hazard communication program and trained employees on the hazards they are exposed to and proper precautions?
- Are your records of work-related injuries and illnesses up to date?
- Do you know the latest COVID-19 guidelines for providing a safe workplace as well as requirements for reporting a Covid-related illness or death?
If you answered “No” to any of these questions, you might not be meeting the compliance requirements OSHA sets forth for organizations like yours.
Here’s the good news: OSHA is committed to helping organizations just like yours with Prevention Programs. Most successful Injury and Illness Prevention Programs are based on a common set of key elements. These include: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, hazard prevention and control, education and training, and program evaluation and improvement. OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Programs topics page contains more information including examples of programs and systems that have reduced workplace injuries and illnesses.
For additional information, their webpage is a perfect place to start.
If that seems overwhelming then contact Doris Scribner by filling out the information below. It might be a perfect option for your organization.
Have you heard of Executive Advantage’s HR Assist plan? Again, contact Doris and she can give you the scoop.