OSHA Health Safety
The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act gives U. S. workers the right to a safe work environment. Workers also have the right to safety training and other mandates, according to OSHA. Regulations also protect workers who report unsafe work conditions. Ways to contact OSHA should be posted in the workplace.
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Categories of OSHA's Coverage
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OSHA has grouped the workforce into four major categories: general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture. The Standards (regulations) are similar in some areas. Many regulations, however, are specific to the particular workplace and job performed.
Employer Responsibility
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An employer is responsible, by OSHA Standards, to provide a safe work environment for all employees. This responsibility covers all areas of safety and health on-the-job.
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Hazard Analysis
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The first step an employer must take in developing a Safety and Health Plan is to do a hazard analysis. This analysis involves every job performed, every work site the company owns, and every piece of equipment and process in which all equipment is used.
Written Safety Plan
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After an analysis is made, the employer should develop a written safety plan. This plan will have several sections, one for each OSHA mandated area of the workplace. Included in the plan will be the OSHA Standards numbers, so the correct regulations may be quickly recognized. Areas covered in the written plan should be the overview, the responsible person or persons for safety and the specific regulations that pertain to every area in the workplace.
All workers must have access to the written safety plan.
Training
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OSHA requires that every employee be trained in the areas of health and safety. An OSHA 10-hour course should be the first step, to ensure that all employees, and then new hires, be oriented to the company's safety plan and OSHA's regulations. Training is also required for temporary employees and contract employees.
The topics covered in training depend on the type of business or industry. OSHA.gov is a website that covers all regulations for all industries. However, an employer may also obtain a safety plan through an insurance or safety company.
After the initial training, frequent safety meetings that present updates on new equipment or procedures, or reviews safety standards that were covered in the initial training.
Safety Monitoring
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After the written safety plan and employee training are completed, frequent monitoring will tell an employer if workers need to be reminded of safety rules. Recordkeeping, an important part of the OSHA standards, will also help employers know if further training for employees is needed.
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References
Resources
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