What Is the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970?
In 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) was passed to protect the health and safety of workers in the United States and its territories. This law was passed to create workplace safety requirements in order to prevent workplace injuries and deaths. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is in charge of enforcing the OSH Act, as well as issuing safety standards and guidelines that employers must follow. Swartz Swindler's attorneys have offered some information about the OSH Act.
Who Is Covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act?
Employers in
the United States and its territories are covered under the OSH Act. The
federal Occupational Safety and Health Act or a state-approved safety and
health plan covers employers in these jurisdictions. In the United States, the
OSH Act also applies to postal workers.
The
Occupational Safety and Health Act applies to manufacturing, construction,
labor, agriculture, private schools, medical, law, and other industries.
Separate plans protect federal personnel as well as state and local government
employees. The OSH Act does not apply to self-employed people, family-owned
farms that only employ direct family members, municipal and state government
employees, or sites governed by other federal laws or federal authorities
Basic Requirements of the OSH Act
Under the OSH Act, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration is approved to review business offices to guarantee that
they are consenting to somewhere safe principles and practices. OSHA
additionally has the ability to set security norms for organizations working
inside various ventures. Bosses may be expected to execute practices,
strategies, and techniques to safeguard representatives at work and follow the
OSHA guidelines.
Bosses should know the guidelines that apply to
them and do whatever it may take to wipe out dangerous circumstances that could
harm their workers. They should likewise give preparing and schooling to their
representatives about utilizing individual defensive gear and give the
fundamental hardware to them. Representatives should adhere to the wellbeing
guidelines that apply to their lead or face working environment discipline.
The OSH Act includes a general duty clause to cover situations that are not
specifically addressed in the law. Under this clause, all employers have a
general duty to provide their employees with a safe and hazard-free workplace.
States are also required to set safety standards that are at least as effective
as the federal standards established by OSHA.
Understanding
Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
Employees who have jobs working around dangers must
be provided with personal protective equipment by their employers. This
equipment is designed to protect them from the dangers that they will encounter
as they perform their jobs. For example, welders must be provided with welder
goggles, gloves, and protective clothing to protect them from injuries while
welding. People who work around dangerous chemicals must be provided with
respirators, eye protection, and special clothing to protect them from exposure
events. Other types of safety equipment that might be required include hard
hats, steel-toed shoes, gauntlets, fire-resistant clothing, safety glasses, or
hearing protection. Employees must be trained in how to properly use personal
protective equipment and must be mandated to wear it at all times when working
around hazards within the workplace.
Hazard
Communication
The OSHA treats the handling of hazardous materials
seriously. Manufacturers and importers of hazardous materials must evaluate the
dangers associated with the materials they import and manufacture. When
manufacturers and importers ship hazardous materials to new clients, they must
indicate on the containers that the materials contained inside are hazardous.
Trucks transporting hazardous materials must also be clearly marked, and truck
drivers who drive the trucks must obtain special endorsements on their CDL
licenses. Employers must train their employees about the data listed on the
containers and explain how they can avoid the dangers of the dangerous
material. OSHA regulations cover other things regarding hazardous materials,
including recordkeeping, posting, and reporting.
Recordkeeping Rules
All employers that are covered by OSHA and that
have 10 or more workers are required to keep OSHA records about job-related
injuries, illnesses, and missed days of work. However, certain employers are
exempted from this requirement when they work within low-hazard industries,
including finance, retail, insurance, real estate, and services.