Understanding OSHA: Worker Safety and Health Administration

1. Unit #2All about OSHA

2. What is OSHA? • Occupational Safety and Health Administration • Responsible for worker safety and health protection

3. What does OSHA do? • Encourages employers and employees to reduce workplace hazards and implement new or improved existing safety and health programs • Develops and enforces mandatory job safety and health standards • Maintains a reporting and recordkeeping system to monitor job-related injuries and illnesses • Provides assistance, training and other support programs to help employers and workers

4. Who is covered by the OSH Act? • Most private sector employees • Coverage is provided directly by federal OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state program • Does not cover the self-employed or immediate members of farm families that do not employ outside workers

5. OSHA Standards • OSHA develops and enforces standards that employers must follow. • Where OSHA does not have standards, employers are responsible for following the OSH Act's General Duty Clause. • States with OSHA-approved programs must set standards at least as effective as federal standards.

6. Recordkeeping and Reporting • Employers of 11 or more employees must maintain records of occupational injuries and illnesses • All employers must display the OSHA poster, and report to OSHA within 8 hours any accident that results in a fatality or in-patient hospitalization of 3 or more employees

7. Recordable incidents • Death • Loss of Consciousness • Medical treatment greater than first aid • Incident must be related to work • Maintained on a calendar year basis

8. Types of Recordable incidents • Days away from work • Days restricted work or job transfer • Other recordable

9. Recordkeeping Forms • 300 A Summary – Posted annually from February through April • 300 Log • 301 Incident Report

10. Case Rates per 100 employees • Standardized rate for making comparisons • Independent of facility size and number of workers • Calculated from OSHA Form 300 A summary • Number of Cases X 200,000 ÷ Number of hours worked by all employees • 200,000 is the number of hours 100 employees working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year would work

11. What are workers’ responsibilities? • Read the OSHA poster • Follow the employer’s safety and health rules and wear or use all required gear and equipment • Follow safe work practices for your job, as directed by your employer • Report hazardous conditions to a supervisor or safety committee • Report hazardous conditions to OSHA, if employers do not fix them • Cooperate with OSHA inspectors (see OSHA Workers' web page for more information)

12. What are workers’ rights? • A safe and healthful workplace • Know about hazardous chemicals • Information about injuries and illnesses in your workplace • Complain or request hazard correction from employer • Training • Hazard exposure and medical records • File a complaint with OSHA • Participate in an OSHA inspection • Be free from retaliation for exercising safety and health rights (see OSHA Workers' web page for more information)

13. What are employers’ rightsand responsibilities? • Provide a workplace free from recognized hazards and comply with OSHA standards • Provide training required by OSHA standards • Keep records of injuries and illnesses • Provide medical exams when required by OSHA standards and provide workers access to their exposure and medical records • Not discriminate against workers who exercise their rights under the Act (Section 11(c)) • Post OSHA citations and abatement verification notices • Provide and pay for PPE

14. Major Federal Laws • 29 CFR 1910 – General Industry Standards (USDOL OSHA) • 29 CFR 1926 – Construction Standards (USDOL OSHA)

15. Most Frequent OSHA Violations:Wholesale Grocery (SIC 5141) October 2009 to September 2010

16. OSHA Workers' Page http://www.osha.gov/workers.html