About OSHA

Congress created the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), part of the Department of Labor, in 1970 to regulate workers’ safety. OSHA has set rules and regulations that employers must follow to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.

OSHA was established to keep employees safe while on the job!

OSHA’s General Duty Clause

Every employer should be familiar with OSHA’s General Duty Clause because it really is all encompassing. OSHA can issue a citation for any safety hazard under the General Duty Clause even if it is not specifically spelled out somewhere else in the regulations. It requires employers to protect employees from any safety hazard they may encounter, including those that aren’t specifically listed in OSHA’s regulations.

(a) Each employer — (1) 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; (2) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.

(b) Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.

TAKING SAFETY
BEYOND THE STANDARD!

OSHA Requirements Overview

If you have ever visited OSHA’s website, you know there is so much information outlining the different safety and health requirements employers must follow. We are going to breakdown the key rules and regulations, starting with the top 3 basic duties for employers.

  • Provide a workplace free from recognized hazards
  • Comply with OSHA’s rules and regulations
  • Conduct safety and health hazard assessments
  • Provide proper training in a language workers understand
  • Develop and maintain updated written safety programs outlining workplace safety policies and procedures
  • Provide employees with access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
  • Post the OSHA workplace poster and have employees read it
  • Keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses
  • Report serious incidents, such as fatalities or hospitalizations to OSHA
  • Do not punish workers who raise safety concerns or report violations
  • Download our OSHA Starter Guide Checklist below for more information!

It Takes More Than Just OSHA Compliance

Part of Lancaster Safety’s approach is to stress the importance of creating a great safety culture at your workplace. As a business owner, you don’t want anyone to get hurt, you want to comply with the law, and you also want to minimize expenses while maximizing profits. A successful safety program can do that and LSCI can show you how!

–Jeff Lancaster, President at LSCI

What Is a Safety Program?

Most companies are required by OSHA to have a set of written Safety & Health Programs. Written safety programs are a custom set of documents, usually in a binder format, that holds a company’s safety policies, procedures, checklists, training documentation and cites applicable OSHA’s standards.

At a minimum, businesses typically need programs for Hazard Communication, PPE and Hazard Assessments, Emergency Action Planning, Fire Safety, and Bloodborne Pathogens. Depending on the industry, additional programs may be required—for example, Fall Protection or Confined Space for construction, and Lockout/Tagout or Respiratory Protection for general industry.

When Safety Professionals talk about the term “safety program”, they are using it as an umbrella term that includes all of the elements that are needed to achieve a proper safety program. This includes the custom written safety and health program itself, employee training, assessing the workplace for hazards and fixing them, and the ongoing effort that is needed to maintain and improve a company’s safety culture. Achieving an effective safety program is about complying with OSHA’s rules and regulations to create a safe workplace for employees.

An Effective Safety Program Includes 4 Elements:

01

Management Commitment & Employee Involvement

02

Worksite Safety
Analysis

03

Hazard Prevention & Control (Including Written Programs)

04

Safety & Health
Training

For guidance on all your OSHA compliance needs, call us today at 888-403-6026.

Download the OSHA Compliance Starter Guide:

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