Introduction to OSHA

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Is there a need for OSHA?
Each year...

Nearly 6,000 workplace fatalities

50,000 deaths from workplace-related
illnesses

5.7 million non-fatal workplace injuries

Injuries alone cost U.S. businesses over $125
billion
Source - OSHA Publication 2056

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Has OSHA Made a Difference?
YES!
Since 1970 OSHA has:

Helped cut the work-related fatality rate in half

Worked with employers and employees to reduce
workplace injuries and illnesses by 40%

Virtually eliminated brown lung disease in the textile
industry, and

Reduced trenching and excavation fatalities by 35%

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 What does OSHA do?

Encourages employers and employees to reduce
workplace hazards and implement new or improve
existing safety and health programs

Develops and enforces mandatory job safety and
health standards

Maintains a reporting and recordkeeping system to
monitor job-related injuries and illnesses

Provides assistance, training and other support
programs to help employers and workers

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Who is covered by the OSH Act?

Most private sector employees

Coverage is provided directly by federal
OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state
program

Does not cover the self-employed or
immediate members of farm families that do
not employ outside workers

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 OSHA Standards

OSHA develops and enforces standards that
employers must follow.

Where OSHA does not have standards, employers
are responsible for following the OSH Act's General
Duty Clause.

States with OSHA-approved programs must set
standards at least as effective as federal standards.

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What does OSHA Require?

Determine which standards apply
to your workplace


Follow the OSHA standards and
requirements

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 Recordkeeping and Reporting
• Employers of 11 or more
employees must maintain
records of occupational
injuries and illnesses
• All employers must display the OSHA
poster, and report to OSHA within 8 hours
any accident that results in a fatality or in-
patient hospitalization of 3 or more
employees

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 Recordkeeping Forms

Maintained on a
calendar year basis


Summary of records
for the previous year
must be posted from
February through
April

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What are workers’ responsibilities?

Read the OSHA poster

Follow the employer’s safety and health rules and
wear or use all required gear and equipment

Follow safe work practices for your job, as directed
by your employer

Report hazardous conditions to a supervisor or
safety committee

Report hazardous conditions to OSHA, if
employers do not fix them

Cooperate with OSHA inspectors

(see OSHA Workers' web page for more information)

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What are workers’ rights?

Identify and correct problems in their workplaces,
working with their employers whenever possible

Complain to OSHA about workplace conditions
threatening their health or safety in person, by
telephone, by fax, by mail or electronically through
OSHA’s web site

Section 11(c) of the OSH Act gives workers the right
to seek safe and healthful conditions on the job
without being disciplined or fired

(see OSHA Workers' web page for more information)

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OSHA Workers' Page

www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/index.html
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What are employers’ rights &
responsibilities?

Employers must provide a safe and healthful workplace free of recognized
hazards and follow the OSHA standards

The OSH Act grants employers important rights, particularly during and
after an OSHA inspection

Employers must provide training, medical examinations and recordkeeping

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Competent Person in Construction
• A person who;
 Knows the right standard,
 Can identify hazards in the operation, and
 Is designated by the employer, and has the authority to take appropriate actions.
• "Competent Person" is found in many standards.
• Some standards set specific requirements for the "competent person."

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 Workplace Inspections
• Establishments covered by the OSH Act are subject to
inspection by OSHA compliance safety and health
officers (CSHO's)

• Most inspections are conducted without advance notice

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What Types of Hazards are
Addressed in Standards?


Electrical 
Scaffolding

Cranes 
Machines

Falls 
Stairways & Ladders

Excavation 
Chemical

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Employer may Qualify for
"Focused Inspection"

Has to meet certain conditions

Inspector will "focus" on these four
hazard areas:
 Falls
 Struck by
 Caught in/between
 Electrical
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 Inspection Process

CSHO displays official
credentials

Opening conference

Walk-around inspection

Closing conference

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 Conducting the
Walk around Inspection

CSHO and accompanying representatives
(employer and employee) inspect the
establishment for potentially hazardous
working conditions

CSHO discusses possible corrective actions
with the employer

CSHO may consult, at times privately, with
employees

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 What Happens After
an OSHA Inspection?

OSHA may or may not issue citations

Citations inform employer and employees of the
regulations and standards allegedly violated and
of the proposed time for abatement/correction.

Employer must post a copy of each citation at or
near place where violation occurred, for 3 days or
until violation is corrected, whichever is longer

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 Sources of Assistance
• OSHA web site (www.osha.gov)
• Consultation assistance
• Federal and State area offices
 Speakers, publications, a/v aids, technical
advice
• Training and education
 OSHA Training Institute (OTI) and the OTI
Education Centers
 OSHA Outreach Training Program
• OSHA Office of State Programs
• Voluntary Protection Programs

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 OSHA Web Site
(www.osha.gov)

About OSHA (events, what’s new . . .)

Compliance Assistance (regulations, directives,
consultation, eTools, training . . .)

Cooperative Programs (VPP, partnerships …)

News Room (publications, news releases . . .)

Safety / Health Topics (technical links to
various topics)

Statistics (Inspection data, BLS survey link ...)
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Where to Get OSHA Standards

Federal Register in public
libraries or at GPO web site

CD-ROM subscription through
U.S. Government Printing Office
(GPO)

Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) in public libraries and
through GPO

OSHA web site - OSHA
standards, interpretations,
directives (www.osha.gov)

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 Consultation Assistance

Provided at no cost

Developed for smaller employers with more
hazardous operations

Delivered by state government agencies or
universities employing professional safety
and health consultants

No penalties are proposed or citations
issued

Possible violations of OSHA standards are
not reported to OSHA enforcement staff
unless employer fails to eliminate or control
any serious hazard or imminent danger

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 OSHA Emergency Hot-Line
1-800-321-OSHA
• Report workplace safety or health fatalities
or the hospitalization of 3 or more
employees
• Report a workplace hazard
• File a complaint about a workplace hazard
• Request information on OSHA
• Request an OSHA publication

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 Summary

OSHA helps save lives and prevent injuries

OSHA balances a cooperative approach
with traditional enforcement

OSHA standards are the enforceable
requirements for worker safety and health

Inspections are OSHA’s way to ensure
compliance

OSHA offers various means of assistance

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