By Bukola Akinjobi,
Carrie Beard, and
Jennifer Roper
Before OSHA…


14,500 American
workers were killed
annually on the job.
Nearly 2,200,000 were
disabled annually in on
the job accidents.
State Enforcement


Few laws enacted.
Failed to allocate
appropriate funds to
enforce these laws.
OSHA is created



Established in 1971
Occupational Safety
and Health Act
An agency of the
Department of Labor
Purpose
OSHA “aims to
ensure employee
safety and health in
the United States by
working with
employers and
employees to create
better working
environments”

The Early Years

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Arbitrary and inconsistent enforcement
Retrofit guards and other safety devices on
existing equipment
Implement other hazard controls
Other requirements, such as mandated
training, communication, and extensive
documentation
With time…


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OSHA-compliant safety features on new
machinery.
Consistent enforcement.
Outdated or irrelevant rules have been
repealed or are not enforced.
Regulatory Impact



Guards on Moving
Parts
Permissible Exposure
Limits
Personal Protective
Equipment

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
Lock Out/Tag Out
Hazard Communication
Bloodborne Pathogens
In the News…


Safe cleanup from Hurricane Gustav, 9/5/08
New report released showing decline in worker
fatalities, 8/20/08
Cooperative Programs
OSHA Alliance Program and Strategic
Partnership Program

OSHA Alliance Program:
o
Work with labor unions, trade or professional groups,
government agencies, and educational institutions
–

Activities of alliances:
 Assist OSHA in developing interactive, web-based
training tools on occupational safety and health topics
 Help develop Safety and Health Topics pages
 Appear at trade shows and conferences.
Strategic Partnership Program:
o
Focus on safety and health programs and include
enforcement , outreach and training components
Safety and Health Achievement
Recognition Program and Voluntary
Protection Programs

Safety and Health Achievement Recognition
Program (SHARP):
o

Recognizes small employers who develop,
implement and continuously improve effective
safety and health programs at their business
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP):
o
Promote effective worksite-based safety and
health.
OSHA TRAINING
Outreach, Education, Compliance
Assistance
OSHA Training Institute


Provide Training and Education in
occupational safety and health
Trains

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Federal and state compliance officers
State consultants
Federal agency personnel
Private sector
OSHA Training Institute Education
Center
•
OTI education center is an extension of the
OSHA Training Institute
•
The program was created in October 1992
•
As of 2007 there are a total of 26 OTI
education centers
Courses by OTI Education Center
•
OTI provides online courses and courses
located at OSHA education centers in all
OSHA regions
•
Popular courses:


#500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and
Health Standards for the Construction Industry
#501 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and
Health Standards for General Industry
OSHA Outreach Training Program

Train workers in the basics of occupational
safety and health

Individuals can attend a one week program
that enables them to teach 10-hour or 30hour courses in contruction or general
industy safety
OSHA Certificate
Workers
•
Rights and Responsibilities
Follow
all safety rules and
regulations
Have right to training
Have right to request
employer fix hazards
•Problems
in the Workplace
Imminent danger and
refusal of dangerous work
Discrimination for filing
complaints
OSHA General Duty Clause
"Each employer shall furnish to each
of his employees employment and a
place of employment which are free
from recognized hazards that are
causing or are likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to his
employees."
OSHA Inspections
What Triggers an OSHA Inspection?
• Imminent Danger
• Catastrophes & Fatal Accidents
• Employee Complaints or Referrals
• Programmed Inspections
Planned or Targeted
• Follow-Up Inspections.
OSHA Insepction Process
•
•
Opening Conference
Inspection purpose described
Complaint is provided, if applicable
Records summoned for inspection
Walk around
Identify potential safety & health hazards
Evaluation of safety and health program
OSHA Inspection Citations

Abatement
Eliminate workplace hazards

Variances
Length of time for abatement

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Penalties and Fines
Employer must post a copy citation near
place where violation occurred, for 3 days or
until violation abated
Violations and Penalties

Other-than-serious (up to $7,000)
Probably would not cause Death

Serious (mandatory $7,000)
Substantial Probably of causing Death

Willful (minimum $5,000 to $70,000)
Employee Death due indifference of known hazard
up to $500,000 fine or six months incarceration

Repeated($70,000) Failure to abate($7,000)
Major Compliance Forms

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OSHA Form 300
Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
OSHA Form 301
Injury and Illness Incident Report
OSHA Form 300A
Summary of Work-Related Injuries and
Illnesses
Regulations and Standards

Regulations
General guideline

Standards
Developed in response to a specific hazard
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Blood-born Pathogens
Chemical Hazard Communication
Underreporting Study
Hidden Tragedy: Under reporting of work
place Injuries and Illnesses
US House of Representatives June 2008
Committee of Education and Labor
As much as 69% of illness an Injuries never
make it into the Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)

Extra Information
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Videos on OSHA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1N48Z5H
erA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Gf2Wg
1FJs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_vypoQ8
3eQ
Resources
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http://www.osha.gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_Saf
ety_and_Health_Administration
http://www.semcosh.org/osha-view.htm
Spellman. Surviving an OSHA Audit: A
Management Guide. CRC Press. 1998.