Safety / Video library
What Is OSHA?
Watch an introduction to OSHA and workplace safety from Todd Jerome Jenkins, then read the companion article for further context.
By Todd Jerome Jenkins, MS, CSP · Free to watch · No account required
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Safety fundamentals · 5:10
Watch the lesson
Read the companion resource: What Is OSHA?
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Companion reading
Connect the requirements with everyday protection
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the U.S. Department of Labor agency responsible for workplace safety and health enforcement within its jurisdiction. Employers remain responsible for the actual work conditions, required protections and instruction. A written policy or an outside resource does not transfer that responsibility.
Workers have rights to safety information, understandable training and ways to raise concerns. Employers need practical processes for hearing those concerns, checking conditions and following through on correction. The relevant duties depend on the work, the applicable federal or State Plan requirements and the hazards present.
Use an introductory lesson to identify your next question: Which standards apply to this task? What is the worker expected to do? What controls need to be in place? Who can correct a problem? Build from those questions into the applicable rule, workplace instruction and verification rather than treating an introductory video as task qualification.
Before the task
- Identify the applicable workplace and regulatory scope.
- Know how workers can raise a safety concern.
- Connect required protection with actual worksite evidence.
Fictional work example
An employee reports that a machine guard interferes with clearing a recurring jam. A useful response examines the task and equipment and establishes an effective protected method before the employee is exposed again.
Consider: What should follow the report?
Compare your reasoning
Listen, evaluate the actual condition, assign and verify an effective correction, and communicate the result. The reporting worker should not be penalized for raising the concern.
Sources and further reading
Original companion notes and fictional examples · Updated . These notes support study; apply the actual workplace procedures and requirements. Government sources retain their own status and do not endorse this material.