Introduction to OSHA Video

Summary

This video by National Safety Compliance educates viewers on OSHA's role in safeguarding the US workforce. It covers OSHA's history, standards, record-keeping requirements, enforcement methods, and compliance strategies. The video highlights OSHA's impact, reducing workplace fatalities by over 60% and injuries by 40%. It also discusses the importance of written programs, hazard assessments, and training to maintain workplace safety, emphasizing the significance of compliance in preventing citations and penalties.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was established in 1970 to create a nationwide program to protect workers from job-related death, injury, and illness.
• 🛡️ OSHA's mission is comprehensive, including setting safety and health standards, conducting inspections, maintaining recordkeeping, and conducting research on occupational safety and health.
• 🚨 OSHA uses enforcement, outreach education, compliance assistance, and partnerships to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
• 📉 Since 1971, OSHA has significantly contributed to reducing workplace fatalities by over 60% and occupational injury and illness rates by 40%.
• 🏢 The Occupational Safety and Health Act covers most private sector employers and their employees, with some exceptions like self-employed individuals and certain federal agency workers.
• 📋 OSHA issues standards that require employers to maintain safe conditions and adopt practices necessary to protect workers, including the provision and use of personal protective equipment.
• 📝 Employers are legally required to comply with all OSHA standards and regulations, including maintaining accurate records of workplace injuries and illnesses as per CFR 1904.
• 🔍 OSHA conducts inspections, often without advance notice, to identify unsafe conditions and issue citations and penalties if violations are found.
• 🛑 Employers can avoid citations and penalties by establishing and maintaining written programs that cover most OSHA standards and ensuring they are current and utilized.
• 👷‍♂️ Training is a critical component of OSHA compliance, with requirements for almost all standards, emphasizing the importance of documenting training to ensure effectiveness.
• 📚 The provided workbook offers additional information on various OSHA standards and safety topics, serving as a resource but not a substitute for legal advice.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970?

The purpose of the OSHA Act of 1970 was to establish a nationwide Federal program to protect almost the entire workforce from job-related death, injury, and illness by creating standardized regulations and guidelines for workplace safety and health.

What was the situation of workplace safety before the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed?

Before the OSHA Act, job safety and health issues were mainly decided by individual companies without standardized regulations or guidelines. Some companies worked to create safe workplaces, while others saw it as a financial burden and unnecessary, leading to a hit-and-miss approach to employee health and safety.

What is the role of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)?

OSHA is the federal agency established to administer the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It is responsible for creating and enforcing occupational safety and health standards, conducting inspections and investigations, ensuring employers maintain records of occupational injuries and illnesses, and conducting research related to occupational safety and health.

How does OSHA help to reduce injuries, illnesses, and deaths on the job?

OSHA uses three basic strategies: enforcement that is strong, fair, and effective; providing outreach education and compliance assistance; and utilizing partnerships, alliances, and other cooperative and voluntary programs.

What progress has been made in occupational health and safety since OSHA's creation?

Since OSHA's creation in 1971, there has been substantial progress, with workplace fatalities cut by more than 60% and occupational injury and illness rates by 40%, despite an increase in the US employment from 56 million to over 135 million employees.

What are OSHA standards and why are they important for employers?

OSHA standards are mandated laws and rules that require employers to maintain conditions or adopt practices necessary to protect workers on the job. Employers must be familiar with and comply with these standards applicable to their establishments and ensure that employees have and use personal protective equipment when required.

Which states have their own job safety and health programs approved by OSHA?

There are currently 22 states and jurisdictions operating complete State plans covering both the private sector and state and local government employees, and four states (Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin Islands) which cover public employees only.

What are the types of violations for which an employer can be fined under OSHA standards?

There are eight types of violations for which an employer can be fined, and penalties can range from $0 to $500,000 depending on the type and severity of the violation. Additional penalties can be imposed for violations such as falsifying records, reports, or applications, and assaulting or interfering with a compliance officer.

What is the importance of maintaining records on workplace injuries and illnesses as per the OSHA Act?

Maintaining records on workplace injuries and illnesses is essential for an effective national program of prevention. It allows the Secretary of Labor to compile accurate statistics and make periodic reports on such occurrences, which helps in identifying trends and areas for improvement in workplace safety.

What steps can employers take to avoid receiving citations and penalties from OSHA?

Employers can avoid citations and penalties by establishing and maintaining written programs that cover most OSHA standards, ensuring that these programs are current, utilized, reviewed, and updated as necessary. Additionally, conducting hazard assessments, providing appropriate personal protective equipment, and ensuring proper training and documentation of training are crucial.

What is the significance of training in compliance with OSHA standards?

Training is a critical aspect of OSHA compliance, as OSHA imposes training and education requirements for almost all standards. Documentation of training helps determine who needs additional training, when updates are necessary, and can evaluate employee work performance. An accurate and complete training program can significantly benefit a company in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.