- Safety and health topics covered by OSHA include pandemic influenza like the swine flu, the use of industrial trucks, workplace ergonomics and construction and environmental safety. Employees and customers who visit a business must be provided a workplace that is free of hazards that could cause death or serious injury and that is in compliance with the safety standards under the OSHA Act of 1970. Employees are required to comply with standards and guidelines listed in the Act.
- Workplace walkways, store and service rooms shall be kept sanitary and clean from nails, splinters, holes or loose boards. Floors are to be kept as dry as much as possible. When wet substances are used on floors and other walkways platforms, mats and other dry coverings should be provided. Approved building loads are to be adequately marked with approved plates that are securely affixed by the building owner. It is illegal to place loads that are greater than what a floor or roof is approved by the building official to hold onto such surfaces.
- The Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association (OSHSPA) provides oversight for the existing 26 state workplace safety plans. Many state plans implement or assist local emergency preparedness and Homeland Security organizations. State plans address workplace violence and provide training materials to employers and employees. They also focus on emergency response initiatives. Approved state plans must be reviewed and certified by OSHA. Employees can file a complaint directly with their state health and safety agency after their state plan is federally approved. Of the 26 states that have approved OSHA plans, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois and New York have plans that only cover state and local government employment.
- OSHA inspectors shall be given entrance to workplace areas so they can conduct regular inspections and inspections specifically related to injuries, death or safety complaints filed against an employer. Investigations typically occur during normal business hours. Inspectors are permitted to interview and question employees and contractors in private, away from supervisors and employers. In some cases, employees and contractors might be called forward by OSHA officials to testify as a witness during court proceedings. Employers must present safety records, including reports of violations or on-the-job accidents, to inspectors.
- OSHA's nearly 2,100 inspectors partner with other OSHA employees and administrators located in 200 offices throughout the United States. Investigations, legal actions and fines assessed to companies that violate safety guidelines can decrease the numbers of employees who are severely injured or killed on the job. Safety guidelines also help to educate employers and employees about best practices, chemical and environmental hazards and ways to keep walkways and other work areas safe during and after business hours.
