21 Things to do for a Safe Workplace

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed to insure that employees have a safe place at which to work. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA was passed to enforce this Act. All employers are covered by this Act. This Act requires employers to be familiar with the Act and to:

" Post a summary of employees rights under the Act;
" Require protective gear and equipment when necessary;
" Keep a record of injuries that occur on the job; and
" Keep a record of deaths that occur on the job and what caused them.

The responsibilities of OSHA include:

" Developing workplace safety regulations;
" Awarding variances from these regulations to employers in appropriate circumstances, e.g. a situation where the workplace was safe in spite of a technical violation; and
" Making inspections, which can be random inspections or can be of an industry that is being targeted such as the roofing and lumber industries. Most employers voluntarily allow such inspections, but if you refuse, then OSHA will have to get a search warrant.