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Facts about Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Facts about Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency created within the Department Of Labor, which regulates and enforces workplace safety standards. The investigations of workplace incidents as well as safety complaints are the responsibility of the OSHA inspectors and they have the discretionary authority to impose fines to an organization based on the seriousness of a given violation. OSHA’s main aim is to aid companies keep compliance with the safety regulations which they have developed.

OSHA’s Creation: The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) of 1970 was developed as a means to protect workers in the United States from illness, injury and death in the workplace. Private sector employers with eleven or more employees are subject to the OSH Act’s regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established on April 28, 1971 as a part of the act’s provision with an authorization to implement the act’s provision.


OSHA’s Record-Keeping Requirements: The occupational accidents resulting in an employee’s missing work, falling unconscious, requiring medical attendance, restricted duty or dying must be properly recorded. Work related incidents are any event which take place within an employee’s working environment. The forms which are required for recording the incidents are specified in the standard 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 1904.29.


OSHA Inspections: As indicated in the Section 8 of the OSH Act of 1970, every workplace covered by the act is subjected to OSHA inspection. The OSHA inspectors have to undergo an extensive training to identify the hazards and to enforce OSHA regulations. The inspection can be either programmed or un-programmed. Any workplace accident, injury or complaint comes under the un-programmed inspection. The programmed inspection on the other hand is scheduled periodically.


OSHA Enforcement: If any company is found to be violating the standards during an inspection, they will be imposed with fines and criminal penalties depending on the severity of the infraction. The penalties for workplace violations are articulated in the section 17 of the act. The fine can go from $7,000, for minor violations to $70,000, for willful violations. If the violation results in the death of the employees, the fines can reach to millions and even imprisonment of the officers.


OSHA Compliance Assistance: In order to assist employers comply with the agency, there is a wealth of web-based and printed publications provided. You can avail OSHA safety training program online or hire a third party trainer for your employees’ training. The OSHA training course will also provide you with the certification and wallet card from the Department Of Labor.
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