• OSHA began because, until 1970, there were no national laws for safety and health hazards.

• On average, 15 workers die every day from job injuries

• Over 5,600 Americans die from workplace injuries annually

• Over 4 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses are reported

• OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor

• OSHA’s responsibility is worker safety and health protection

• On December 29, 1970, President Nixon signed the OSHA Act

• This Act created OSHA, the agency, which formally came into being on April 28, 1971

• The mission of OSHA is to save lives, prevent injuries and protect the health of America’s workers.

• Some of the things OSHA does to carry out its mission are:

  • developing job safety and health standards and enforcing them through worksite inspections

  • maintaining a reporting and recordkeeping system to keep track of job-related injuries and illnesses

  • providing training programs to increase knowledge about occupational safety and health.

• You have the right to:
  • 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

• Have you seen this poster at your place of work?

• Creation of OSHA provided workers the right to a safe and healthful workplace

• The creation of OSHA provided workers the right to a safe and healthful workplace.
• Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act states: “Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."

• Employers must have a written, complete hazard communication program that includes information on:
  • Container labeling
  • Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
  • Worker training
    • The training must include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals and how workers can protect themselves; including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect workers, such as work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment.

• What information does the MSDS provide?

• Have you seen an MSDS in their workplace?

• Are the instructions on the MSDS followed in your workplace?

• Have you worked with hazardous substances without an MSDS?

• OSHA’s Recordkeeping rule requires most employers with more than 10 workers to keep a log of injuries and illnesses.

• Workers have the right to review the current log, as well as the logs stored for the past 5 years.

• Workers also have the right to view the annually posted summary of the injuries and illnesses (OSHA 300A).

• Workers may bring up safety and health concerns in the workplace to their employers without fear of discharge or discrimination, as long as the complaint is made in good faith.

• OSHA regulations [29CFR 1977.9(c)] protect workers who complain to their employer about unsafe or unhealthful conditions in the workplace.

• Workers have a right to get training from employers on a variety of health and safety hazards and standards that employers must follow.

• Some required training covers topics such as, lockout-tagout, bloodborne pathogens, noise, confined spaces, fall hazards in construction, personal protective equipment, along with a variety of other subjects.

• 1910.1020: right to examine & copy records

• Examples of toxic substances and harmful physical agents are:

  • Metals and dusts, such as, lead, cadmium, and silica.

  • Biological agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

  • Physical stress, such as noise, heat, cold, vibration, repetitive motion, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

• Workers may file a complaint with OSHA if they believe a violation of a safety or health standard, or an imminent danger situation, exists in the workplace.

• Workers may request that their name not be revealed to the employer.

• If a worker files a complaint, they have the right to find out OSHA’s action on the complaint and request a review if an inspection is not made.

• Employee representative can accompany OSHA inspector.

• Workers can talk to the inspector privately.

• Workers may point out hazards, describe injuries, illnesses or near misses that resulted from those hazards and describe any concern you have about a safety or health issue.

• Workers can find out about inspection results, abatement measures and may object to dates set for violation to be corrected.

• Workers have the right to be free from retaliation for exercising safety and health rights.

• Workers have a right to seek safety and health on the job without fear of punishment.

• This right is spelled out in Section 11(c) of the OSH Act.

• Workers have 30 days to contact OSHA if they feel they have been punished for exercising their safety and health rights.

• What does an MSDS tell you?

• What are some worker rights related to injury and illness reporting?

• Name some standards or hazards where workers must be trained.

• 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

Employers must keep records of injuries and illnesses.

• Number of workers that are getting injured or ill

• The types of injuries and illnesses reported

• The jobs and departments where the most severe injuries or illnesses are occurring

• Does anyone wear personal protective equipment on their job?

• Employers are required to determine if PPE should be used to protect their workers.

• Rule was effective on February 13, 2008 and implemented by May 15, 2008.

• What are some of the responsibilities employers have related to OSHA recordkeeping?

• Which section of the OSH Act prohibits employers from discriminating against workers for exercising their safety and health rights?

• What are some types of PPE that employers must pay for?

• OSHA standards fall into four categories: General Industry, Construction, Maritime, and Agriculture.

• OSHA issues standards for a wide variety of workplace hazards

• Where there are no specific OSHA standards, employers must comply with The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1)

Click: Most Frequently Cited (MFC) Standards to view current data

To search MFC data on this webpage:

• “Select number of employees in establishment,” select ALL or one of the options listed

• “Federal or State Jurisdiction,” select Federal or, from the dropdown menu, a specific state

• “SIC,” select ALL for all Industry groups, C for Construction, D for Manufacturing (General Industry), or 373 and 449 for Maritime

• Shown are search results for: All sizes of establishments, in Federal jurisdiction, with Construction SIC codes

• The OSH Act authorizes OSHA compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) to conduct workplace inspections at reasonable times.

• OSHA conducts inspections without advance notice, except in rare circumstances (e.g. Imminent Danger)

• In fact, anyone who tells an employer about an OSHA inspection in advance can receive fines and a jail term.

• Employer or supervisor, co-workers and union representatives

• Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for information on chemicals

• Labels and warning signs

• Employee orientation manuals or other training materials

• Work tasks and procedures instruction

• OSHA website: http://www.osha.gov and OSHA offices (you can call or write)

• Compliance Assistance Specialists in the area offices

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – OSHA’s sister agency

• OSHA Training Institute Education Centers

• Doctors, nurses, other health care providers

• Public libraries

• Other local, community-based resources

This Lesson Covered:

• The importance of OSHA, including the history of safety and health regulation leading to the creation of OSHA and OSHA’s mission;

• Worker rights under OSHA;

• Employer responsibilities;

• OSHA standards;

• OSHA inspections; and

• Safety and health resources, including how to file a complaint.