Keeping your workplace OSHA compliant
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides-specific safety standards for agriculture, construction work, maritime operations, and general industry. It’s important that you know what measures apply to your business, and how to keep track of your compliance.
OSHA’s workplace mandates are meant to limit workers’ exposure to hazardous substances and enforce use of safety practices and equipment, as well as to require that employers watch for known workplace hazards and document instances of worker injury or illness. OSHA’s statistics show that the program works: Since its founding, workplace deaths have fallen by over 60 percent and work-related injuries and illness rates have fallen by over 65 percent.
KNOW WHO’S COVERED, AND HOW
Most U.S. workers are covered by OSHA standards. Exceptions are the self-employed, immediate family members of farm employers, and employees who work for state and local governments who have OSHA protections through an OSHA-approved state program.
OSHA requires employers to provide a workplace that’s free of “serious recognized hazards” — a requirement known as OSHA’s General Duty Clause — and that is compliant with applicable standards. OSHA requires businesses to continuously monitor working conditions and mitigate health and safety hazards immediately upon detection. This includes providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and instituting physical changes to the workplace conditions and to work procedures.
HOW DOES MY BUSINESS STAY COMPLIANT?
First, know the OSHA standards that apply to your business. OSHA offers a program of free onsite consultation for small and mid-sized businesses to help you put together a safety program that meets OSHA regulations.
Record-keeping is key. Employers with more than 10 employees are required to document work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Not doing so is one of the most common violations of OSHA’s rules.
WE CAN HELP
Grinnell Mutual has put together a trio of Loss Control Bulletins which will help you steer a steady course through OSHA’s regulations. Use these documents for a quick overview of OSHA, its services and record-keeping requirements, and to download a form to post in your workspaces to remind your employees about reporting requirements.
The information included here was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and its employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with any training, materials, suggestions, or information provided. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm compliance with any applicable local, state, or federal regulations. Information obtained from or via Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company should not be used as the basis for legal advice and should be confirmed with alternative sources.
4/2024