Last Updated on April 25, 2024 by Ossian Muscad
Employers must adhere to many Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards to maintain a safe workplace. These standards can be complex and vary depending on the industry, but their ultimate goal is to protect workers from hazards and ensure their health and safety on the job. As an employer, it’s essential to know and understand what these standards entail in order to comply with them and effectively protect your employees. This guide will provide an overview of OSHA standards as well as specific lists of regulations for various industries. We encourage you to consult with OSHA and seek professional guidance to ensure full compliance with all applicable standards.
What Are OSHA Standards?
OSHA standards are rules that describe the methods that employers must use to protect their employees from hazards. There are four categories of OSHA standards:
- General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
- Construction (29 CFR 1926)
- Maritime (29 CFR 1915-1919)
- Agriculture (29 CFR 1928)
These standards are designed to cover a wide range of work environments and include specific requirements for things like hazard communication, fire protection, personal protective equipment (PPE), and machine guarding.
Besides setting requirements for physical safety measures, OSHA standards also require employers to maintain certain health standards, like air quality and noise level, to ensure a healthy working environment. Failure to adhere to these standards can result in fines, citations, and other penalties for employers, alongside potential harm to employees.
Brief History of OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was formally established in 1971 as a response to the high number of work-related injuries and illnesses that the United States experienced during the 1960s. During this decade, around 14,000 workers died on the job every year.
This high death toll was because no federal standards were in place to protect workers. In response to this, US Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. and House Representative William A. Steiger made strides to mitigate the alarming statistics.
In December 1970, US President Richard Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act into law, establishing OSHA. This act was a huge victory for workers’ rights as it ensured that employees would have a safe and healthy working environment.
Since its establishment, OSHA has accomplished many things in worker safety. For example, OSHA was instrumental in developing the Hazard Communication Standard, which requires employers to provide information about the chemicals they use in the workplace. This standard is essential as it ensures that workers are aware of the potential hazards they may be exposed to.
Apart from OSHA, other organizations have also developed safety standards. For example, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a research agency that recommends safety standards. However, NIOSH does not have the authority to enforce these standards—that’s the role of OSHA.
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) is another organization that promotes worker safety. It is an independent agency that reviews cases of alleged violations of OSHA standards. Together, these three organizations work to ensure that workers are protected from preventable injuries and illnesses.
OSHA Functions
In its role as a guardian of worker safety and health, OSHA fulfills several critical functions aimed at reducing workplace hazards and ensuring employees work in environments that prioritize their well-being. Two of the most significant are acting as a Safety Enforcer and serving as a Safety Consultant:
Safety Enforcer
OSHA’s primary role is to enforce compliance with safety standards among employers and employees across the United States. Non-compliance can result in significant fines, legal repercussions, and damage to one’s reputation. To uphold these standards, OSHA’s compliance safety and health officers conduct workplace visits, carrying out inspections to detect and highlight possible safety risks to both employers and employees.
Safety Consultant
Upon request, OSHA offers complimentary safety consultations for employers. During these sessions, an OSHA consultant conducts an on-site inspection alongside the employer to pinpoint potential workplace hazards. They offer practical advice on resolving safety concerns and help in creating and sustaining an effective safety and health program. Furthermore, OSHA consultants are available to deliver safety training for employers and employees, either on-site or off-site, with prior approval.
OSHA Safety Standards
To ensure worker safety across various sectors, OSHA has established comprehensive standards tailored to the specific needs and risks of different industries. These standards are key to minimizing workplace hazards and providing a guideline for employers to create a safer working environment. Below, we explore the specific OSHA safety standards applicable to General Industry, Construction, Maritime, and Agriculture.
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
The General Industry standards, codified under 29 CFR 1910, encompass a wide array of workplace safety guidelines designed for the majority of the workforce not engaged in construction, maritime, or agricultural operations. These regulations cover aspects such as emergency exit routes, hazardous material handling, electrical safety, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The goal is to ensure a comprehensive protection mechanism is in place, reducing workplace injuries and illnesses. This segment details OSHA’s occupational safety and health mandates, specifically for businesses outside the agricultural, construction, and maritime sectors. Employers are required to adhere to the following:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Ensure each employee receives the necessary PPE, such as respirators, safety glasses, face shields, earplugs, protective gloves, and flame-resistant clothes. Not providing appropriate PPEs could lead to a breach of OSHA regulations.
- Safety Training: Provide employees with proper safety training, either internally or via external providers, to equip them for possible hazards in the workplace.
- Work Area Conditions: Maintain cleanliness, order, and sanitation in all areas, including production zones, storage areas, and walkways.
- Walking-Working Surfaces: Ensure that walking-working surfaces are capable of bearing the total weight of personnel, equipment, and machinery safely. Eliminate hazards on these surfaces, such as sharp objects, unstable floorboards, chemical spills, and icy conditions. Ensure safe access and egress for employees to walking-working zones.
- Fire Safety: Equip the workplace with portable fire extinguishers, keeping them within easy reach for staff. It’s the employer’s duty to conduct regular inspections, upkeep, and testing of portable fire extinguishers and all fire prevention tools within the organization.
Construction (29 CFR 1926)
Construction standards, found under 29 CFR 1926, specifically address the safety and health concerns in the construction industry, which is known for its high risk of accidents and injuries. These standards focus on topics such as scaffolding safety, fall protection, trenching and excavation safeguards, and the correct use of construction machinery and equipment. By following these guidelines, construction sites can significantly decrease the likelihood of fatal and nonfatal injuries. This section explores key responsibilities that employers hold within the construction sector:
- Equipment and Machinery Operation: Ensure that employees are adequately trained and experienced to operate equipment and machinery.
- First Aid and Medical Services: Ensure that first aid services and medical provisions are available for all employees.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Provide and require employees to wear appropriate PPE in all operations where hazardous conditions are present.
- Debris Clearance: During construction work, employers must ensure that harmful debris, such as scrap lumber with protruding nails, is cleared from work areas.
- Adequate Illumination: Ensure that adequate illumination, whether natural or artificial, is available in walking-working areas where work is in progress.
- Noise Exposure: Where there are harmful sound levels, employers must utilize feasible administrative and engineering measures. If such measures fail, employers must ensure that employees have access to PPE that protects them from excessive noise exposure and harmful sound levels.
- Fall Protection: Provide fall protection, such as guardrails, safety nets, and safety harnesses, to employees working at a height of six feet or more.
- Fire Protection and Prevention: Employers are responsible for the development and consistent implementation of an effective fire protection and prevention program for the entire duration of construction, repair, alteration, and/or demolition work.
- Electrical Equipment Safety: Ensure that all electrical equipment used at the job site is safe and free from recognized hazards that may cause injury or death.
- Certification of Pressure Vessels and Boilers: Ensure that pressure vessels and boilers have a current and valid certification from an insurance company or regulatory authority as evidence for safe installation, inspection, and testing.
Maritime (29 CFR 1915-1919)
Maritime standards, detailed in 29 CFR 1915-1919, are tailored to the unique conditions of shipyards, marine terminals, and long shoring operations. These regulations cover safety protocols for ship repairing, shipbuilding, and shipbreaking, addressing issues such as confined space entry, cargo handling, and the use of dangerous equipment. The emphasis is on preventing accidents and ensuring the health and safety of workers engaged in maritime activities. In the maritime sector, employers are advised to undertake the following actions:
- Atmospheric Testing: Ensure atmospheric testing for oxygen content, flammability, and toxicity in that order.
- Spaces Inspection and Testing: Inspect and test the following spaces for oxygen content by a qualified person before allowing employee entry: Sealed spaces, including but not limited to spaces that have been coated and non-ventilated spaces after fresh paint application; Spaces that contain or previously contained flammable liquids/gases, and corrosive liquids, gases, or solids; Spaces that have been fumigated. Spaces containing materials or elements that deplete oxygen levels.
- Oxygen-Deficient/Enriched Spaces: Label all rooms determined to be oxygen-deficient or oxygen-enriched as “Not Safe for Workers.”
- Oxygen Content Regulation: Ensure the oxygen content in all rooms and spaces is between 19.5 percent to 22.0 percent. Label any outside this range as “Not Safe for Workers.”
- Employee Training: Train each employee and anyone entering confined spaces or dangerous atmospheres to exit the space under the following conditions: An authorized person orders evacuation; An evacuation signal or alarm is activated; The individual assesses they are in danger.
- Shipyard Rescue Team: Establish a shipyard rescue team or hire a third-party team ready for quick response. If an employer’s own team is used: Provide adequate training for team members on entry into confined areas and handling dangerous atmospheres; Ensure shipyard rescue teams practice their rescue skills every 12 months with realistic drills using appropriate equipment and facilities.
- Procedures Following Vessel Alterations: Stop work in any affected space when changes in a vessel introduce potential hazards. Work may resume only after re-establishing the space’s safe status through proper inspection and testing.
Agriculture (29 CFR 1928)
Agriculture standards, under 29 CFR 1928, aim to protect workers involved in farming operations, acknowledging the specific risks associated with the agricultural industry. These guidelines cover the safe operation of farm equipment and tractors, the handling and storage of agricultural chemicals, and the construction and maintenance of grain bins. By adhering to these standards, agricultural workers are safeguarded against the many hazards that can occur on farms. In the agricultural sector, it’s essential for employers to:
- Tractor Safety: Ensure each tractor used by employees for work is equipped with a working seatbelt that is sufficiently tightened to keep the worker confined within the safe area of the operator’s station. Ensure the protective frames of wheel-type tractors used by employees have been subjected to and passed standard laboratory and field-upset tests, certifying their effectiveness in preventing injuries due to accidental upsets.
- Hazardous Materials Handling: Batteries, fuel tanks, oil containers, and coolants must be placed and sealed in areas where employees are protected from possible spillage.
- Machinery Operation Training: Employees assigned to operate machinery must receive adequate training in the safe operation and servicing of agricultural equipment. This includes adhering to minimum safe practices such as keeping all guards in place during machine operation, permitting no riders on the equipment other than the operator and necessary personnel.; and stopping the engine and disconnecting it from the power source.
- Hydration for Field Workers: Provide free, clean drinking water to employees who work in the field. The water must be cool enough and sufficient, considering the air temperature and humidity, as well as the nature of their work, to meet the needs of all field workers.
Benefits of OSHA Requirements Compliance
OSHA is the official agency that sets and enforces the right safety standards to ensure workers’ safe and healthy working conditions. Adherence to OSHA standards will protect workers from dangerous and life-threatening safety hazards. Here are other benefits that you and your workers will get from complying with OSHA requirements:
Develop and Formulate an Effective H&S Policy
When you develop a health and safety policy for your workplace, it will serve as a guide for your employees on how they should act and behave in the workplace. This will help to create a culture of safety in your workplace. It’s also important that safety managers update these guidelines with the latest information on health and safety compliance.
Enables Frontline Workers to Respond Proactively to Safety Hazards
When workers are properly trained on safety procedures and know what to do in the event of an emergency, they will be able to respond quickly and effectively to any safety hazards. This will help to minimize the potential for injuries and fatalities in the workplace.
Reduce the Number of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
When workers are aware of the potential hazards in the workplace and they know how to prevent them, the number of workplace injuries and illnesses will be reduced. This will also help improve workplace productivity as there will be less downtime due to accidents.
Improved Morale in the Workplace
When workers feel safe and comfortable in the workplace, they are more likely to enjoy their work and be more productive. This will also help reduce workplace turnover, as workers will be less likely to leave if they feel that their safety is being taken care of.
Complying with OSHA standards is beneficial not only for workers but also for employers. By complying with OSHA standards, employers can create a safer workplace for their employees and reduce the potential for workplace accidents and injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What are the most common violations of OSHA standards?
The most common violations include failures to provide fall protection, inadequate hazard communication, insufficient respiratory protection, unsafe scaffolding, lack of control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), and improper ladder use. Regular audits and training sessions can help avoid these pitfalls.
Q2: How often must OSHA training be renewed or updated?
The frequency of required OSHA training updates varies by standard. For example, Hazard Communication training should occur whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced, whereas other training, like forklift operator certification, must be updated every three years. Always consult specific OSHA standards for precise requirements.
Q3: Can small businesses receive any assistance in complying with OSHA standards?
Yes, OSHA offers several resources tailored for small businesses, including the On-Site Consultation Program, which provides free, confidential safety and occupational health advice. Additionally, resources like the Quick Start Guides on the OSHA website help small businesses identify which OSHA standards apply to them.
Q4: What should be included in an effective health and safety (H&S) policy according to OSHA?
An effective H&S policy should outline the organization’s safety procedures, identify responsible persons, detail how to report hazards and describe the training and equipment provided to protect workers. It should be accessible, well-communicated to all employees, and updated regularly.
Q5: How does OSHA enforce its standards in workplaces?
OSHA enforces its standards through workplace inspections, which can be scheduled or unscheduled and are often triggered by worker complaints, accidents, or referrals. Violations can result in citations, fines, and required corrective actions. In severe cases, OSHA may require operations to halt.
Q6: What’s the process for reporting a violation to OSHA, and what protections exist for whistleblowers?
Violations can be reported to OSHA through their website, by phone, or by mail. Workers who report violations are protected under OSHA whistleblower statutes, which prohibit employers from retaliating by means like termination, demotion, or decreased hours. Complaints of retaliation must be reported to OSHA within 30 days of the alleged reprisal.
Streamline OSHA Standard Compliance with DATAMYTE
DATAMYTE is a quality management platform with low-code capabilities. Our Digital Clipboard, in particular, is a low-code workflow automation software that features a workflow, checklist, and smart form builder. This tool lets you create custom checklists and forms for OSHA inspections, audits, and training sessions.
Additionally, you can build logic into the forms to ensure that all required fields are completed and that certain conditions are met before submission. With digital checklists and forms, you can easily track compliance with OSHA standards and identify areas for improvement.
DATAMYTE also lets you conduct layered process audits (LPA), a high-frequency evaluation of critical process steps, focusing on areas with the highest failure risk or non-compliance. Conducting LPA with DATAMYTE lets you effectively identify and correct potential defects before they become major quality issues.
With DATAMYTE, you have an all-in-one solution for promoting safety and compliance in your workplace. Our platform helps you streamline OSHA standard compliance, ensure the health and well-being of your employees, and maintain a culture of safety in your organization. Book a demo now to learn more.
Conclusion
OSHA standards are important for employers to comply with to create a safe workplace for their employees. By following the guidelines set by OSHA, employers can reduce the potential for workplace accidents and injuries. Therefore, ensure you are up-to-date with the latest OSHA standards and create a workflow to help your company comply with them. An effective compliance strategy not only safeguards your workforce but also enhances overall operational efficiency.
By investing in proper safety training, equipment, and practices, businesses can cultivate a culture of safety that permeates every level of operation. Adherence to OSHA standards is not just about fulfilling legal obligations; it’s a commitment to the well-being of your employees, which, in turn, contributes to the long-term success of your organization.
