Which Federal Law Ensures Workplace Safety?
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) is the main federal law regulating workplace safety. OSHA gives each and every employee the right to have a safe and hazard free workplace. To ensure this, OSHA randomly inspects workplaces and takes complaints directly from workers. However, the main groups not covered by OSHA are government employees, independent contractors, and those who work on family farms.
Here are some of the specific rights that OSHA guarantees:
- You have the right to notify your employer or OSHA about workplace hazards. You may ask OSHA to keep your name confidential.
- You have the right to request an OSHA inspection if you believe that there are unsafe and unhealthful conditions in your workplace. You or your representative may participate in the inspection.
- You can file a complaint with OSHA within 30 days of discrimination by your employer for making safety and health complaints or for exercising your rights under the OSH Act.
- You have a right to see OSHA citations issued to your employer. Your employer must post the citations at or near the place of the alleged violation.
- Your employer must correct workplace hazards by the date indicated on the citation and must certify that these hazards have been reduced or eliminated.
- You have the right to copies of your medical records or records of your exposure to toxic and harmful substances or conditions.
- Your employer must post a notice about OSHA in your workplace.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act imposes many requirements on employers. Among the most important requirements are the duties of the employer to:
- Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply OSHA regulations.
- Examine the workplace to ensure that equipment and practices conform to OSHA requirement.
- Make sure employees are properly using tools and equipment and make sure that the equipment itself is safe.
- Inform employees about potential hazards.
- Train employees in dealing with hazards.
- Report any fatal or serious injuries to OSHA within 8 hours.
- Keep records of workplace injuries and make these records available upon request to employees and former employees.
OSHA standards are divided into four categories: general industry, maritime, construction, and agriculture. This means that different categories have different safety standards and requirements.
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Courtesy of Workplace Fairness. For more information regarding the article visit, http://www.workplacefairness.org/workplace-health-safety-OSHA#1
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