Health & Safety At Work Policies
A number of health and safety acts help with the prevention of on-the-job illnesses, accidents, injuries or deaths. Congress has implemented policies that employers and employees must follow to keep safety and health in the workplace. Violating health and safety policies not only can cause injury, but can lead to job termination and legal lawsuits for both employers and employees.
History of OSHA
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration was established by Congress in 1971. The administration was established to help with the prevention of illnesses, injuries and deaths that occur at the workplace. The policy is to provide for the employee's general welfare, and to assure as far as possible that every working employee in the nation has safe and healthy working conditions.
Policy Postings
Employers have safety and health policies and procedures that they must abide by and that their employees must also abide by. Therefore a posting must be displayed within the workplace warning the employees of any safety requirements, as well as their safety rights. If an employee asks an employer for a copy of the posting, the employer must give the employee the requested copy. Not having the posting at the workplace is an OSHA violation, and a company can be fined for not complying with the posting requirement.
Drug-Free Workplace Warning
Employees who work under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs put themselves and other employees at risk while working. An employee who is taking a prescription drug should not work while on the medication if the drug will affect his ability to work or to use equipment in the workplace. Therefore, for health and safety reasons, work environments should be drug free. An employer is not required to drug test an employee; however, if an accident or safety issue occurs, the employee can be terminated or can face legal consequences if the injury or accident was caused because the employee was under the influence of drugs at work.
Accident Prevention
The Occupational Safety Health Act requires an employer to provide an employee with a healthy and safe work environment. Under this act, employers must properly train employees on any health and safety hazards that might exist in the workplace. This includes training an employee on all of the dangerous chemicals he could be exposed to, and providing him with ways to protect himself. Employers must resolve any hazards or OSH Act violations.
Worker's Compensation Benefits
Most employers are required to provide worker's compensation insurance to employees who are injured on the job. The worker's compensation insurance provides medical benefits to employees who require medical treatment for the eligible injury. In addition to medical benefits, an employee is eligible to receive wage payments for any wage loss suffered due to the on-the-job injury.
History of OSHA
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration was established by Congress in 1971. The administration was established to help with the prevention of illnesses, injuries and deaths that occur at the workplace. The policy is to provide for the employee's general welfare, and to assure as far as possible that every working employee in the nation has safe and healthy working conditions.
Policy Postings
Employers have safety and health policies and procedures that they must abide by and that their employees must also abide by. Therefore a posting must be displayed within the workplace warning the employees of any safety requirements, as well as their safety rights. If an employee asks an employer for a copy of the posting, the employer must give the employee the requested copy. Not having the posting at the workplace is an OSHA violation, and a company can be fined for not complying with the posting requirement.
Drug-Free Workplace Warning
Employees who work under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs put themselves and other employees at risk while working. An employee who is taking a prescription drug should not work while on the medication if the drug will affect his ability to work or to use equipment in the workplace. Therefore, for health and safety reasons, work environments should be drug free. An employer is not required to drug test an employee; however, if an accident or safety issue occurs, the employee can be terminated or can face legal consequences if the injury or accident was caused because the employee was under the influence of drugs at work.
Accident Prevention
The Occupational Safety Health Act requires an employer to provide an employee with a healthy and safe work environment. Under this act, employers must properly train employees on any health and safety hazards that might exist in the workplace. This includes training an employee on all of the dangerous chemicals he could be exposed to, and providing him with ways to protect himself. Employers must resolve any hazards or OSH Act violations.
Worker's Compensation Benefits
Most employers are required to provide worker's compensation insurance to employees who are injured on the job. The worker's compensation insurance provides medical benefits to employees who require medical treatment for the eligible injury. In addition to medical benefits, an employee is eligible to receive wage payments for any wage loss suffered due to the on-the-job injury.
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