OSHA
What is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's mission ?
OSHA's mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths. Since the agency was
created in 1971, occupational deaths have been cut in half and injuries have declined by 40 percent.
How and when was OSHA created ?
Congress created OSHA under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed by
President Richard M. Nixon on December 29, 1970.
How many work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths occur each year in the U.S. ?
In 1999, there were 5.7 million occupational injuries and illnesses among U.S. workers.
Approximately 6.3 of every 100 workers experienced a job-related injury or illness. And 6,023
workers lost their lives on the job.
What are OSHA's inspection priorities ?
First priority are reports of imminent dangers of accidents about to happen; second are fatalities or
accidents serious enough to send three or more workers to the hospital. Third are employee
complaints. Referrals from other government agencies are fourth. Fifth are targeted inspections-such
as the Site Specific Targeting Program, which focuses on employers that report high injury and illness
rates, and special emphasis programs that zero in on hazardous work such as trenching or equipment
such as mechanical power presses. Follow-up inspections are the final priority.
What's the penalty for violating an OSHA standard ?
OSHA penalties range from $0 to $70,000, depending upon how likely the violation is to result in
serious harm to workers. Other-than-serious violations often carry no penalties but may result in
penalties of up to $7,000. Serious violations and may have penalties up to $7,000. Repeat and willful
violations may have penalties as high as $70,000. Penalties may be discounted if an employer has a
small number of employees, has demonstrated good faith, or has few or no previous violations.
Who must keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses ?
Employers with 11 or more employees (about 1.3 million) must keep records of work-related injuries
and illnesses. Workplaces in low-hazard industries such as retail, service, finance, insurance and real
estate are exempt from record keeping requirements.
How can I get help from OSHA to fix hazards in my workplace ?
If you are an employer, you may wish to contact the OSHA Consultation Program for your state for
free on-site assistance in identifying and correcting hazards or setting up safety and health programs.
You can also contact the OSHA Area Office nearest you to speak to the compliance assistance
specialist about training and education in job safety and health issues. Another option is OSHA
Advisors, interactive software that walks you through specific OSHA standards such as asbestos or
helps identify potential hazards throughout your workplace.
How can I find out about OSHA inspections of my workplace or other companies ?
OSHA maintains an inspection database on it’s web site (www.osha.gov) that you can use to search
for companies by name or by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. You can limit your search
by state or by year if you wish.
How can I get workplace safety and health training from OSHA ?
You can contact the nearest OSHA Area Office to speak to the compliance assistance specialist. Or
you can check out training available at the OSHA Training Institute in the Chicago area or at one of
the 12 education centers located at colleges and universities around the nation.
OSHA Standards For The Construction Industry
1. The responsibility to initiate and maintain accident prevention programs lies with the _____.
(a) employee
(b) employer
(c) contractor
(d) subcontractor
1926.20(a)(1) It shall be a condition of each contract for construction, alteration, and/or repair,
including painting and decorating, that no contractor or subcontractor for any part of the contract
work shall require any laborer or mechanic employed in the performance of the contract to work in
surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to his
health or safety. 1926.20(b)(1) It shall be the responsibility of the employer to initiate and maintain
such programs as may be necessary to comply with this part.
2. Which of the following items must be provided _____ at each job site.
I. toilet
II. potable water
III. fire extinguisher
IV. first-aid kit
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) I, III, and IV only
(d) all of these
1926.51(c)(1) Toilets shall be provided based on the number of employees; if 20 or less (1), if 20 or
more (1) toilet seat and (1) urinal for every 40 workers, if 200 or more (1) toilet seat and (1) urinal for
every 50 workers. 1926.51(a)(1) An adequate supply of potable water shall be provided in all places of
employment. 1926.150(a)(1) The employer shall be responsible for the development of a fire
protection program to be followed throughout all phases of the construction and demolition work,
and he shall provide for the fire fighting equipment.
1926.23(d)(1) First aid supplies shall be easily accessible when required.
3. If the employees of an electrical contractor used scaffolding put up by the general contractor, and
the scaffolding was not safe and not in accordance with the regulations the electrical contractor
would be cited for a violation, and be subject to the penalties of the law.
(a) True
(b) False
1926.16(c) To the extent that a subcontractor of any tier agrees to perform any part of the contract, he
also assumes responsibility for complying with the standards in this part with respect to that part.
Thus, the prime contractor assumes the entire responsibility under the contract and the subcontractor
assumes responsibility with respect to his portion of the work. With respect to subcontracted work,
the prime contractor and any subcontractor or sub-contractors shall be deemed to have joint
responsibility.
4. Employees working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from ____ shall be
protected by protective helmets.
I. electrical shock or burn
II. impact
III. falling or flying objects
(a) II and III
(b) I and III
(c) I and II
(d) I, II and III
1926.100(a) Employees working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact,
or from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns, shall be protected by protective
helmets.
5. Material stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within ____ feet of any
hoistway or inside floor openings.
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 10
(d) 12
1926.250(b)(1) Material stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of
any hoistway or inside floor openings, nor within 10 feet of an exterior wall which does not extend
above the top of the material stored.
6. The bottom of a 12’ extension ladder shall be approximately ____ feet from the wall it is
leaning against.
(a) 1’
(b) 2’
(c) 3’
(d) 4’
1926.1053((b)(5)(i) Non-self-supporting ladders shall be used at an angle such that the horizontal
distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-quarter of the working
length of the ladder (the distance along the ladder between the foot and the top support)
1926.1053(a)(19) Where the total length of a climb equals or exceeds 24 feet (7.3 m), fixed ladders shall
be equipped with one of the following: (a)(19)(i) Ladder safety devices; or (a)(19)(ii) Self-retracting
lifelines, and rest platforms at intervals not to exceed 150 feet (45.7 m); or (a)(19)(iii) A cage or well,
and multiple ladder sections, each ladder section not to exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) in length. Ladder
sections shall be offset from adjacent sections, and landing platforms shall be provided at maximum
intervals of 50 feet (15.2 m).