Workplace Health & Safety Laws
Employers must abide by the workplace and safety health laws that Congress created decades ago. Violating the health and safety laws of the workplace can lead to citations and penalties. Employees have the right to work in safe and health working environments; therefore, an employee must be properly trained on the job that he shall perform. Sanitation standards must be met by employers, which can help with the prevention of illnesses amongst employees.
OSH Administration
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed by President Richard Nixon on December 29, 1970. The Act was created to help prevent deaths, illnesses and injuries in the workplace. Since OSHA was created, the number of occupational deaths has been cut by 62 percent in the workplace, and injuries have declined by 42 percent.
Right to Dispute Citations
OSHA law allows all employers to contest any citations or penalties that OSHA representatives have given them. The employer must dispute the citation and penalty within 15 working days after the citation was issued. The employer disputes the citation before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Signage Law
Law requires an employer to post a federal or state OSHA poster somewhere within the workplace. The poster is mandatory because it provides information for employees regarding their health and safety rights. (A poster can be ordered through OSHA offices or downloaded from OSHA.gov; see References.) An employer can be cited for not having the poster visible for employees in the workplace. Other signage that is necessary includes proper safety equipment necessary to perform a duty or operate equipment, such as hard hats and safety goggles.
Compliance
Those employees who work in hazardous work conditions must receive proper training by their employers. Under OSHA's Waste and Emergency Response standard, the employees must be trained to perform their anticipated jobs without endangering themselves or others. An employer can determine the type of training his employees need by the considering the hazards in the community and what capabilities his employees will need to respond to those hazards.
Record Keeping
Employers covered by the OHSA with more than 10 employees must keep specific records of the job-related illnesses and injuries. Some companies are exempt from record keeping, such as employers in low hazard industries in retail, real estate, service sectors, insurance and finance. Minor injuries that only require first aid treatment do not need to be recorded, as long as the injuries and illnesses do not require medical treatment, transfer to another job, work restriction or loss of consciousness.
OSH Administration
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed by President Richard Nixon on December 29, 1970. The Act was created to help prevent deaths, illnesses and injuries in the workplace. Since OSHA was created, the number of occupational deaths has been cut by 62 percent in the workplace, and injuries have declined by 42 percent.
Right to Dispute Citations
OSHA law allows all employers to contest any citations or penalties that OSHA representatives have given them. The employer must dispute the citation and penalty within 15 working days after the citation was issued. The employer disputes the citation before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Signage Law
Law requires an employer to post a federal or state OSHA poster somewhere within the workplace. The poster is mandatory because it provides information for employees regarding their health and safety rights. (A poster can be ordered through OSHA offices or downloaded from OSHA.gov; see References.) An employer can be cited for not having the poster visible for employees in the workplace. Other signage that is necessary includes proper safety equipment necessary to perform a duty or operate equipment, such as hard hats and safety goggles.
Compliance
Those employees who work in hazardous work conditions must receive proper training by their employers. Under OSHA's Waste and Emergency Response standard, the employees must be trained to perform their anticipated jobs without endangering themselves or others. An employer can determine the type of training his employees need by the considering the hazards in the community and what capabilities his employees will need to respond to those hazards.
Record Keeping
Employers covered by the OHSA with more than 10 employees must keep specific records of the job-related illnesses and injuries. Some companies are exempt from record keeping, such as employers in low hazard industries in retail, real estate, service sectors, insurance and finance. Minor injuries that only require first aid treatment do not need to be recorded, as long as the injuries and illnesses do not require medical treatment, transfer to another job, work restriction or loss of consciousness.
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