Introduction to OSHA

Intro to OSHA

Lesson Overview
Purpose: To provide workers with introductory information about OSHA Topics: 1. Why is OSHA important to you? 2. What rights do you have under OSHA? 3. What responsibilities does your employer have under OSHA? 4. What do the OSHA standards say? 5. How are OSHA inspections conducted? 6. Where can you go for help?

Intro to OSHA

Topic 1: Why is OSHA Important to You?

OSHA began because, until 1970, there were no national laws for safety and health hazards. On average, 15 workers die every day from job injuries Over 5,600 Americans die from workplace injuries annually Over 4 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses are reported
3

Intro to OSHA

History of OSHA
OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor OSHAs responsibility is worker safety and health protection

On December 29, 1970, President Nixon signed the OSH Act This Act created OSHA, the agency, which formally came into being on April 28, 1971

Intro to OSHA

OSHA Coverage Activity

Covered by OSHA? YES NO Worker

1. Harry Adams, a miner at Below Ground Inc.

2. Adrian Smith, one of 3 employees of ABC landscaping. 3. Taylor Dell, an accountant in business for herself. 4. Rob Jones, one of 10 carpenters working for Woody, Inc.

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

Intro to OSHA

OSHAs Mission
The mission of OSHA is to save lives, prevent injuries and protect the health of Americas workers. Some of the things OSHA does to carry out its mission are: developing job safety and health standards and enforcing them through worksite inspections, maintaining a reporting and recordkeeping system to keep track of job-related injuries and illnesses, and providing training programs to increase knowledge about occupational safety and health.

Intro to OSHA

Topic 2: What Rights Do You Have Under OSHA? You have the right to:
A safe and healthful workplace Know about hazardous chemicals Information about injuries and illnesses in your workplace Complain or request hazard correction from employer Training Hazard exposure and medical records File a complaint with OSHA Participate in an OSHA inspection Be free from retaliation for exercising safety and health rights

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

The creation of OSHA provided workers the right to a safe and healthful workplace.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act states: Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

Employers must have a written, complete hazard communication program that includes information on:

Container labeling, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), and Worker training. The training must include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals and how workers can protect themselves; including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect workers, such as work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment.

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

OSHAs Recordkeeping rule requires most employers with more than 10 workers to keep a log of injuries and illnesses. Workers have the right to review the current log, as well as the logs stored for the past 5 years. Workers also have the right to view the annually posted summary of the injuries and illnesses (OSHA 300A).

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

Workers may bring up safety and health concerns in the workplace to their employers without fear of discharge or discrimination, as long as the complaint is made in good faith. OSHA regulations [29CFR 1977.9(c)] protect workers who complain to their employer about unsafe or unhealthful conditions in the workplace.

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

Workers have a right to get training from employers on a variety of health and safety hazards and standards that employers must follow.

Some required training covers topics such as, lockout-tagout, bloodborne pathogens, noise, confined spaces, fall hazards in construction, personal protective equipment, along with a variety of other subjects.

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

1910.1020: right to examine & copy records Examples of toxic substances and harmful physical agents are:
Metals and dusts, such as, lead, cadmium, and silica. Biological agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Physical stress, such as noise, heat, cold, vibration, repetitive motion, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

Workers may file a complaint with OSHA if they believe a violation of a safety or health standard, or an imminent danger situation, exists in the workplace. Workers may request that their name not be revealed to the employer. If a worker files a complaint, they have the right to find out OSHAs action on the complaint and request a review if an inspection is not made.

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

Employee representative can accompany OSHA inspector Workers can talk to the inspector privately. Workers may point out hazards, describe injuries, illnesses or near misses that resulted from those hazards and describe any concern you have about a safety or health issue. Workers can find out about inspection results, abatement measures and may object to dates set for violation to be corrected.

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

Workers have the right to be free from retaliation for exercising safety and health rights. Workers have a right to seek safety and health on the job without fear of punishment. This right is spelled out in Section 11(c) of the OSH Act. Workers have 30 days to contact OSHA if they feel they have been punished for exercising their safety and health rights.

Your Right to

Intro to OSHA

Workers have the right to be free from retaliation for exercising safety and health rights. Workers have a right to seek safety and health on the job without fear of punishment. This right is spelled out in Section 11(c) of the OSH Act. Workers have 30 days to contact OSHA if they feel they have been punished for exercising their safety and health rights.

Intro to OSHA

Employers are Required to:

KEEP RECORDS OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
REPORTING AND RECORDING CHECKLIST

Employers must: Report each worker death Report each incident that hospitalizes 3 or more workers Maintain injury & illness records Inform workers how to report an injury or illness to the employer Make records available to workers Allow OSHA access to records Post annual summary of injuries & illnesses

Intro to OSHA

Employers are Required to:

PROVIDE AND PAY FOR PPE Handout #7: Employers Must Provide and Pay for PPE

Does anyone wear personal protective equipment on their job? Employers are required to determine if PPE should be used to protect their workers. Rule was effective on February 13, 2008 and implemented by May 15, 2008.

Intro to OSHA

Topic 4: What do the OSHA Standards Say? OSHA standards fall into four categories: General Industry, Construction, Maritime, and Agriculture. OSHA issues standards for a wide variety of workplace hazards Where there are no specific OSHA standards, employers must comply with The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1)

Intro to OSHA

Topic 4: What do the OSHA Standards Say? OSHA standards fall into four categories: General Industry, Construction, Maritime, and Agriculture. OSHA issues standards for a wide variety of workplace hazards Where there are no specific OSHA standards, employers must comply with The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1)

Intro to OSHA

Priority
1st 2nd 3rd

Category of Inspection
Imminent Danger:
Reasonable certainty an immediate danger exists

Fatality/Catastrophe:
Reported to OSHA; inspected ASAP

Complaints/Referrals:
Worker or worker representative can file a complaint about a safety or health hazard

4th

Programmed Inspections:
Cover industries and employers with high injury and illness rates, specific hazards, or other exposures.

Intro to OSHA

VIOLATION TYPE
WILLFUL A violation that the employer intentionally and knowingly commits or a violation that the employer commits with plain indifference to the law. SERIOUS A violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. OTHER-THAN-SERIOUS A violation that has a direct relationship to safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. REPEATED A violation that is the same or similar to a previous violation.

PENALTY
OSHA may propose penalties of up to $70,000 for each willful violation, with a minimum penalty of $5,000 for each willful violation. There is a mandatory penalty for serious violations which may be up to $7,000.

OSHA may propose a penalty of up to $7,000 for each other-than-serious violation. OSHA may propose penalties of up to $70,000 for each repeated violation.

Intro to OSHA

Download the OSHA-7 form from OSHAs website File the complaint online
Workers can file a complaint A worker representative can file a complaint

Telephone or visit local regional or area offices to discuss your concerns Complete the form be specific and include appropriate details OSHA determines if an inspection is necessary Workers do not have to reveal their name

Intro to OSHA

This lesson covered: The importance of OSHA, including the history of safety and health regulation leading to the creation of OSHA and OSHAs mission; Worker rights under OSHA; Employer responsibilities; OSHA standards; OSHA inspections; and Safety and health resources, including how to file a complaint.