Everything You Need to Know About Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
What is OSHA?
OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is a federal agency within the United States Department of Labor that was created to ensure the safety and health of workers in the country by enforcing standards and regulations related to workplace safety. This includes inspecting workplaces for hazards, providing training and education to employers and employees, and issuing penalties for noncompliance.
What Issues Does OSHA Regulate?
OSHA regulates a wide range of workplace safety and health issues. It has the authority to set standards and regulations for a variety of hazards, including:
•Exposure to hazardous chemicals and substances
•Confined spaces
•Electrical safety
•Fall protection
•Fire safety
•Personal protective equipment
•Noise exposure
•Ergonomics
•Bloodborne pathogens
•Emergency action plans
OSHA also has regulations specific to certain industries, such as construction, maritime, and agriculture. Additionally, OSHA provides resources, outreach, and education to employers and employees to help them understand their rights and responsibilities under the law.
How can employers comply with OSHA standards?
Compliance with OSHA standards is essential for ensuring the safety and health of employees. Employers should take a proactive approach to identifying hazards, selecting and providing appropriate PPE, training their employees, and maintaining their PPE and records. Some best practices for working to meet OHSA standards include:
•Keeping records: Employers should keep records of their workplace assessments, PPE selection, employee training, and any incidents or injuries that occur in the workplace.
•Complying with specific standards: Employers should be familiar with and comply with all OSHA standards that apply to their specific industry or type of work
•Promptly correcting any hazards found: Employers should take prompt action to correct any hazards identified during workplace assessments or inspections.
What are OSHA Safety Standards for PPE?
OSHA has several standards for personal protective equipment (PPE) that are designed to protect employees from specific hazards in the workplace. These standards include:
•General requirements for PPE (29 CFR 1910.132). Employers should keep records of their workplace assessments, PPE selection, employee training, and any incidents or injuries that occur in the workplace.
•Eye and Face Protection (29 CFR 1910.133), which requires employers to ensure that employees wear appropriate eye and face protection to protect against eye and face injuries from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.
•Head Protection (29 CFR 1910.135), which requires employers to ensure that employees wear appropriate head protection to protect against head injuries from falling objects, electrical shock and burns, or impact with fixed objects.
•Foot Protection (29 CFR 1910.136), which requires employers to ensure that employees wear appropriate foot protection or work boots to protect against foot injuries from falling or rolling objects, or from electrical hazards.
•Hand Protection (29 CFR 1910.136), which requires employers to ensure that employees wear appropriate hand protection to protect against hand injuries from cuts, lacerations, abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, and harmful temperature extremes.
What Happens if Employers Do Not Comply with OSHA Regulations & Standards?
To avoid the risks of violating OSHA regulations, it is important to have an adequate PPE program in place. Zappos at Work offers PPE solutions to make your life easy and help keep your employees safe. With the widest selection of safety apparel and footwear, we make OSHA compliance easy.
If employers do not comply with Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards, they may be cited for violations and face penalties, including fines. Repeat or serious violations can also result in legal action being taken against the employer. Additionally, non-compliance can also result in increased risk of accidents and injuries for employees, which can lead to costly workers' compensation claims. Therefore, it is important for employers to understand and comply with OSHA standards to protect the health and safety of their employees and avoid potential legal and financial consequences.