What is OSHA?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act of 1970 (OSHA Act) was signed into law by President Nixon on December 29, 1970, establishing OSHA. Employer, workers, safety, workplace safety and health specialists, unions, and advocates have all contributed to this success.

Many work-related injuries, diseases, and deaths have been avoided thanks to OSHA missions such as those for asbestos, trenching, machine guarding, fall protection, benzene, lead, blood borne infections, and cotton dust.

OSHA Mission

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was formed by Congress to provide safe and healthy working conditions for men and women by setting and enforcing standards, as well as providing training, outreach, information, and compliance assistance. Employers are required by OSHA legislation to provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. 

OSHA Coverage

The OSHA Act protects a number of private sector enterprises and their employees, as well as some public sector employers and ensures workplace safety for employees, in each of the 50 states, as well as some territories and areas under federal authority. Among those jurisdictions are some of the districts, islands and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands as defined by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

Private Sector Workers

OSHA covers the majority of private sector enterprises and workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other U.S. jurisdictions, either directly through Federal OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state plan. State plans, as opposed to federal OSHA, are OSHA-approved job safety and health programs managed by individual states.

The OSHA enforce states to build and administer their safety at job, at workplace and other health programs, and prohibits state enforcement of OSHA requirements unless the state has already an approved program. All state plans are approved and monitored by OSHA, which also contributes up to half of the funds for each program.

State-managed safety and health activities must be at least as effective as those handled by the federal government. Certain workers who are expressly excluded from a state's plan, such as those engaged in the marine industry or on military bases in some states, are covered by federal OSHA.

State and Local Government Workers

Workers at state and local governments are not protected by Federal OSHA, but they are covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act if they work in a state with an OSHA-approved state program. According to OSHA laws, states and territories can also create plans that only cover personnel in the public sector (state and local government). In many cases, private-sector employees and employers are nevertheless subject to federal OSHA requirements.

Federal Governments workers

OSHA's safeguards apply to all government entities. Section 19 of the OSHA Act holds federal agency heads accountable for maintaining workplace safety and healthy working conditions for their employees. OSHA does not fine federal entities, but it does monitor them and performs federal workplace inspections in response to worker reports of dangers.

Federal agencies are expected to establish or enforce a workplace safety and health program equal to that of private firms. According to an amendment that was made in 1998, the OSHA Act will also be covering the United State Postal Service, this protection is ensure in the same way as, OSHA ensure the protection of the private sector employees.

Rights and Responsibilities of OSHA Laws

It is the responsibility of employers to create a safe working environment (workplace). Employers must offer a healthy and workplace safety for their employees and must adhere to all OSHA safety and health regulations.

Employers must be well concise regarding the health and the handling condition, also worker's safety and other related health concerns. According to the OSHA objective, employers must try to eliminate or reduce hazards by making reasonable improvements to working conditions before relying on personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, or earplugs.

Effective approaches to minimize or lessen dangers include switching to safer chemicals, enclosing operations to contain toxic vapors, and using ventilation systems to clean the air.

Chemical dangers should be communicated to employees via training, labeling, alarms, color-coded systems, chemical information sheets, and other means.

Workers should receive safety instruction in a language and vocabulary that they understand.

Keeping detailed records of work-related injuries and illnesses is essential.

Perform workplace tests, such as air sampling, as required by some OSHA regulations.

Workers should be provided the appropriate personal protective equipment at no expense to them.

OSHA Standards

OSHA's guidelines for construction, general industry, maritime, and agriculture protect workers from a variety of dangerous hazards. Employers must, for example, comply with OSHA guidelines that require them to:

• Safeguard you from falling.
• Avoid trench cave-ins.
• Reduce the risk of contracting some infectious disorders.
• Ensure that workers entering tight locations are safe.
• Limit your exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals.
• Install safety shields on potentially harmful devices.
• Supply respirators or other safety gear.
• Give training in a language and terminology that workers can understand for particular dangerous tasks.

Advantages

• Accidents in the workplace are reduced.
• Economic advantages.
• Cave-ins in trenches are avoided at all costs.
• Company standards have improved.
• Increased knowledge on how to deal with job dangers.
• Providing fall protection.
• Reduce your risk of contracting some infectious diseases.
• Ensuring that personnel entering tight locations are safe.
• Asbestos and lead are two dangerous compounds that should be avoided.
• Machines should be protected by guardians.
• Supply oxygen masks.

Context and Applications

OSHA standards are used in various industries such as

• Aerospace Industry
• Transport Industry
• Computer Industry
• Telecommunication industry
• Agriculture industry
• Construction Industry
• Education Industry
• Pharmaceutical Industry

This is an important concept for coding students. This concept is mainly taught in

• Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering
• Masters of Technology in Electrical Engineering
• Bachelors of engineering in Industrial Management

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Common Mistakes

• Failure to recognise potential dangers.
• Near-misses go unnoticed.
• Maintenance is being neglected.
• Training is being rushed.
• Failure to conceal.
• Using the incorrect tool for the job.

Practice Problems

Q1. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established on ..........................

A. December 29, 1970

B. December 20, 1971

C. December 30, 1977

D. December 12, 1970

Answer: A

Explanation: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established on December 29, 1970.

Q2. What is meaning of OSHA?

A. Occupational Safety and Health Academic

B. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

C. Occupational Separation and Health Administration

D. None

Answer: B

Explanation: OSHA means Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Q3. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established by ............

A. Joint Committee

B. Industrial Group

C. Congress

D. None

Answer: C

Explanation: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established by Congress.

Q4. ........................of the Occupational Safety and Health Act holds federal agency heads accountable for maintaining workplace safety and healthy working conditions for their employees.

A. Section 20

B. Section 18

C. Section 15

D. Section 19

Answer: D

Explanation: Section 19 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act holds federal agency heads accountable for maintaining workplace safety and healthy working conditions for their employees.

Q5. ............................... are required or enforce to establish a workplace safety and health program that is comparable to that of private businesses.

A. Federal agencies

B. Private Sector Workers

C. State and Local Government Workers

D. None

Answer: A

Explanation: Federal agencies are required or enforce to establish a workplace safety and health program that is comparable to that of private businesses.