OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) is a government agency created in 1970 to protect employees from hazardous working conditions. OSHA’s mission is to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all employees in the United States. OSHA has been actively enforcing its worker safety and health standards in the workplace since 1982. OSHA has a number of inspectors and auditors in the workplace, but they do not have a license to enforce the OSHA laws.
What is OSHA?
OSHA was created to set safety standards for all U.S. workplaces. The Act outlines specific requirements for employers to ensure workers are safe on the job. The act also requires employers to provide a safe workplace for all employees, to provide adequate training to workers who may be exposed to hazards or accidents, and to provide workplace health and safety committees to prevent injuries.
Here are a few key tips to avoiding OSHA liability;
Perform a Self-Assessment
The first step to reduce OSHA liability is to focus on what OSHA cares about: safety. A self-assessment is a critical part of your safety training plan as you learn all the safety basics and how to identify potential safety hazards. Take a detailed look at your company and evaluate how you are performing in terms of workplace safety.
Adequate documentation of safety efforts
In a recent OSHA memorandum, OSHA has raised the bar for what is considered adequate documentation of safety efforts. While OSHA has been taking a more aggressive stance toward what documentation is sufficient, the agency also stated that even more documentation is needed. This request for more documentation is a continuation of OSHA’s effort to hold employers accountable for their safety and health efforts and it further emphasizes OSHA’s commitment to employer safety and health.
Regular safety meetings
It is witnessed that a lot of potentially difficult enforcement circumstances can be swiftly defused if the organization performs regular, well-documented safety and sanctuary meetings, including everyday toolbox talks, weekly safety meetings, regular mass meetings, or post-incident safety reviews.
Attention to a new-hire safety orientation
OSHA requires all employers to provide new employees with a safety orientation program outlining the safety rules and policies of the company. An employee safety orientation program is a systematic approach to the safety of the workplace, and it should start with the hiring process.
Final Words
OSHA is a federal agency that administers health and safety standards for the workplace to protect the health and safety of workers. The agency is responsible for serious workplace-related injuries, which include both fatal and nonfatal injuries.
OSHA has recently met with tremendous skepticism over its effectiveness in the workplace. To know more about OSHA citations and liabilities, attend the Compliance Prime webinar.
