Introduction to OSHA
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 1
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 2
tion
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%
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 3
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 4
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 5
tion
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.
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 6
tion
What does OSHA Require?
Determine which standards apply
to your workplace
Follow the OSHA standards and
requirements
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 7
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 8
tion
Recordkeeping Forms
Maintained on a
calendar year basis
Summary of records
for the previous year
must be posted from
February through
April
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 9
tion
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)
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 10
tion
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)
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 11
tion
OSHA Workers' Page
www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/index.html
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 12
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 13
tion
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."
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 14
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 15
tion
What Types of Hazards are
Addressed in Standards?
Electrical
Scaffolding
Cranes
Machines
Falls
Stairways & Ladders
Excavation
Chemical
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 16
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 17
tion
Inspection Process
CSHO displays official
credentials
Opening conference
Walk-around inspection
Closing conference
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 18
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 19
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 20
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 21
tion
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 ...)
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 22
tion
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)
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 23
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 24
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 25
tion
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
OSHA Office of Training & Educa 26
tion
