The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency responsible for ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for American workers. OSHA sets and enforces safety standards, provides training and education, and conducts inspections to ensure employers comply with safety regulations. This article will answer the top five questions when searching for OSHA-related occupational safety, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and OSHA requirements.
What is OSHA, and what does it do?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency that sets and enforces safety standards to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for American workers. OSHA provides training and education to employers and employees on safety and health topics, conducts inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations, and issues citations and fines to employers who violate safety standards.
What are some of the most frequently cited OSHA violations?
OSHA conducts inspections of workplaces to ensure that employers comply with safety regulations. During these inspections, OSHA may issue citations and fines for safety violations. Some of the most frequently cited OSHA violations include:
- Fall protection
- Hazard communication
- Scaffolding
- Respiratory protection
- Ladders
- Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
- Powered industrial trucks
- Electrical wiring methods
- Machine Guarding
- Personal protective equipment
How effective is OSHA at reducing workplace injuries and illnesses?
According to the BLS, since OSHA’s inception in 1971, the rate of workplace fatalities has declined by approximately 65 percent, and the rate of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses has declined by approximately 70 percent. OSHA’s efforts to ensure safe and healthy working conditions have been instrumental in reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.
What are an employer’s responsibilities under OSHA?
Employers have several responsibilities under OSHA, including:
- Providing a safe and healthy workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees
- Complying with OSHA safety and health standards
- Posting OSHA citations, injury, and illness data in the workplace
- Providing training and education to employees on safety and health topics
- Keeping records of work-related injuries and illnesses
- Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees at no cost
- Reporting workplace fatalities or hospitalizations to OSHA within 8 hours
What are an employee’s rights under OSHA?
Employees have several rights under OSHA, including:
- The right to a safe and healthy workplace
- The right to receive training and education on safety and health topics
- The right to file a complaint with OSHA if they believe their employer is not providing a safe and healthy workplace
- The right to participate in an OSHA inspection and speak with the inspector
- The right to be free from retaliation for exercising their rights under OSHA
Conclusion
OSHA is essential in ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for American workers. Employers have several responsibilities under OSHA, including providing a safe and healthy workplace and complying with safety and health standards. Employees have several rights under OSHA, including the right to a safe and healthy workplace and the right to file a complaint if they believe their employer is not providing a safe and healthy workplace. OSHA’s efforts to ensure safe and healthy working conditions have been instrumental in reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.
