Introduction &
Understanding of
OSHA
What is OSHA
????????
OSHA IS
• The
Occupational
Safety and
Health
Administration
Why Does OSHA Exists
• Because until 1970, no uniform or
comprehensive provisions existed to
protect against workplace safety and
health hazards.
• On average, 15 workers die every day
from work injuries. That’s approx.,
5,600 workers annually.
• Approximately 4 million non-fatal job
injuries and illnesses reported.
When did OSHA Start?
The Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 – 29 USC 653
• Signed into law on
December 29, 1970 by
Richard M. Nixon.
• Act established OSHA
(Occupational Safety
and Health
Administration), and its
responsibility to provide
worker safety and health
protection.
What is OSHA’s
Mission?
OSHA’s Mission
• To save lives
• To prevent injuries
• To protect America’s workers
How does OSHA
do that?
• Provide for research
• Establish separate but dependent
responsibilities and rights for
employers/employees
• Maintain reporting & recordkeeping
system
• Establish safety training prgs
• Develop & enforce safety standards
• Evaluate and approve state safety prgs
THE OSH ACT
Is Also Known As The
Williams Steiger
Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970
What does the
OSHA Act do?
The OSHA Act
• Establishes
specific
responsibilities
to Employer
• Establishes
specific
responsibilities
to Employees
OSHA Act Coverage
Cont…
• It does not cover self employed
persons
• Farms at which only immediate
family members are employed
• Workplaces already protected by
other govt agencies under other
federal laws
How does OSHA
Accomplish its Mission
OSHA Uses 3 Basic Strategies
To Help Reduce Injury and Death on
the Job
• Strong, fair, and effective enforcement.
• Outreach, education, and compliance
assistance.
• Partnerships and other cooperative
programs.
Workplace Inspections
• Authority
• Normally notice is
not given
• Employee’s
representative
must be informed
Notice of Inspections
• OSHA generally conducts inspections
without advance notice. In fact, anyone who
alerts an employer in advance of an OSHA
inspection can receive a criminal fine of up
to $1,000, or a six-month jail term or both.
• Under special circumstances, OSHA may
give the employer advance notice of an
inspection—but no more than 24 hours.
• These special circumstances include:
• Imminent danger situations, which
require correction immediately.
• Inspections that must take place after
regular business hours, or require special
preparation.
• Cases where OSHA must provide
advance notice to assure that the
employer and employee representative or
other personnel will be present.
• Situations in which OSHA determines
that advance notice would produce a
more thorough or effective inspection.
OSHA Inspection Priorities
• Imminent Danger or any condition
where there is reasonable certainty
that a danger exists that can be
expected to cause death or serious
physical harm immediately.
• Catastrophes and fatal accidents
resulting in the death of any employee
or the hospitalization of three or more
employees.
OSHA Inspection Priorities
• Employee complaints involving imminent
danger or an employer violation that
threatens death or serious physical harm.
• Referrals from other individuals, agencies,
organizations, or the media.
• Planned, or programmed, inspections in
industries with a high number of hazards
and associated injuries.
• Follow-ups to previous inspections.
Inspections Process
A typical OSHA on-site inspection
includes four stages:
1. Presentation of inspector credentials.
2. An opening conference.
3. An inspection walk-around.
4. A closing conference.
Opening Conference
• In the opening conference, the compliance
officer:
• Explains why OSHA selected the
establishment for inspection.
• Obtains information about the establishment.
• Explains the purpose of the visit, the scope of
the inspection, walk-around procedures,
employee representation, employee interviews,
and the closing conference.
• Determines whether an OSHA funded
consultation is in progress or whether the
facility has received an inspection exemption.
• If so, the compliance officer usually terminates
the inspection.
Inspection Walk-around
• After the opening conference, the
compliance officer and accompanying
representatives proceed through the
establishment, inspecting work areas for
potentially hazardous working conditions.
• The compliance officer will discuss possible
corrective actions with the employer.
• OSHA may consult, at times privately, with
employees during the inspection walk-
around.
Inspection Walk-around
• An inspection walk-around may cover only part of
an establishment – particularly if the inspection
resulted from a specific complaint, fatality, or
catastrophe, or, is part of a local or national
emphasis program.
• Other inspections may cover the entire facility,
“wall to wall.”
• Trade secrets observed by the compliance officers
are kept confidential.
• Federal employees who release confidential
information without authorization are subject to a
$1,000 fine, one year in jail, or both, and removal
from office or employment.
Record Reviews
• The compliance officer checks posting and
recordkeeping practices, including whether the
employer has:
• Maintained records of deaths, injuries, and
illnesses;
• Posted OSHA’s Summary of Work-Related Injuries
and Illnesses (OSHA 300A) from February 1 to
April 30.
• Prominently displayed the OSHA “It’s The Law”
poster (OSHA 3165).
• The compliance officer also examines records,
where required, of employee exposure to toxic
substances and harmful physical agents.
