What is the meaning of OSHA and what is the function of this organization?

OSHA is a federal agency that was founded alongside the Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970. The OSH Act sought to protect the rights of workers and to offer long-term solutions for regulating workplace hazards.

Following the success of the OSH Act, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA. The sole mission of OSHA is “to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.”

OSHA is a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, whose administrators report directly to the Secretary of Labor. States have the option of developing their own OSHA-approved state-run programs focused directly on job safety and health; however, some states choose to have their workers covered by federal OSHA regulations. Colorado is one of those states, with offices in Englewood and Denver.

Who does OSHA Protect?

OSHA serves most private sector employers and employees. The organization also monitors federal employers and employees. The only difference between the two is that OSHA cannot fine a federal agency.

Workers who aren’t covered by OSHA include those who work for state or local governments, are self-employed, or work in an industry whose jobs require regulation by a separate federal agency (such as Mine Safety and Health Administration or the Federal Aviation Administration). Also, in Colorado, farms with less than 10 employees are not regulated by OSHA standards.

What does OSHA do?

OSHA sets industry health and safety standards for a variety of job fields. These job fields may include construction work, hospital employment, maritime operations, etc. The agency goes beyond simply setting workplace standards; OSHA also trains employers on workplace health and safety. The aim of the agency is to prevent workplace injuries or deaths before they occur by educating employers about potential hazards in the workplace.

OSHA also monitors and inspects work environments to hold employers accountable for creating safe and healthy workplaces. If employers who are under the jurisdiction of OSHA are noncompliant according to OSHA standards, the company may fine an employer for violating workers’ rights.

What are your Worker’s Rights?

As an American worker, you have the right to work in an environment that is both safe and healthy. If an employer violates this right in anyway, workers may file a complaint with OSHA. The agency will then inspect the workplace to find any evidence that suggests an unsafe or unhealthy environment for employees.

Employees also have the right to report workplace injuries. Employers are required to have a process in place that allows workers to report any on-the-job injuries. If this process is not established, or if an employer impedes the process, workers may then report directly to OSHA.

Employees should never be worried about reporting workplace hazards or injuries. Under OSHA regulations, employers CANNOT discriminate against employees who have filed complaints with OSHA. Employees are protected by their OSHA rights against employer retaliation.

Recovering from work-related injuries or hazards can be difficult physically, mentally and financially, but knowing your rights can help you get the compensation you deserve. The Babcock Law Firm is willing to help workers who are facing work injuries or hazards.

According to the available statistics, more than sixty percent of the accidents in the workplace are preventable. Prevention can be achieved through a proper educative system targeting the employer, the employees and the general public. Negligence forms the major component of the causes of these accidents while the rest are due to lack of proper mechanisms and warning signs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was formed with the key intent of minimizing workplace related injuries hence protecting the employer and the employees in general. It protects the employees through minimized exposure to health hazards and the employer from the many liabilities emanating from workplace injuries and the compensations arising.

Assured safety

According to the regulations of OSHA it is mandatory that every organization comes up with a sound policy on staff safety by ensuring the various potential exposures to risks are addressed and mitigated. Apart from enforcing a program of continuous education on work related safety, the employer is also mandated to carry out occasional drills to assess emergency preparedness of the various departments within the organization. One key area that has been widely addressed is the exit route within an organization in case of an emergency. Adequate attention has been given to this section after discovery that majority of injuries and fatalities are as a result of lack of adequate exit routes. According to the stipulations, the exit routes should be easily accessible and should be positioned at easily accessible and central points. The exit routes should be unhindered by any explosives or any other material that is flammable.  The lighting should also be adequate for any person with a normal vision. It should also be clearly marked and the direction clearly indicated.

First aid

OSHA offers a detailed guideline on workplace preparedness and emergency response emphasizing on the mandatory nature of First Aid within the organization. According to the specifications the organizations outlined include those dealing with constructions, power plants, and those dealing with distribution of power.  The employer is required to ensure there is a medical personnel present to address health and medical concerns and providing continuous training on First Aid. It further states that in the absence of a clinic or a hospital within the organization there should be a few certified persons with First Aid skills.

Empowering employees on their safety rights

OSHA gives workers immense rights when it comes to managing their own safety within an organization. It gives them the authority to participate in the formulation of safety standards and during the setting up regulations relating to their own health and safety. Particularly, workers have a right to access information on the various safety measures put in place and the steps to follow in case of accidents or emergencies.

Additionally, employees are mandated to petition their employers to address their concerns regarding safety and to improve the existing conditions. In the same breath, they are protected should they boycott work citing unsafe environment. They have a right to petition the intervention of OSHA where they feel threatened even if the safety measures they want implemented falls out of OSHA’s standards.