The International Labor Organization recently estimated that more than 2.3 million men and women every year, lose their lives as a result of a work-related accident or illness. This means that more than 6,000 deaths are reported every day around the world. We’ll give you a moment to let that number in.
In addition, the report suggests that around 340 million occupational hazards and 160 million victims of work-related illnesses are reported each year. The numbers are certainly shocking, and the US government has set up a dedicated agency to combat these numbers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created for the sole purpose of promoting workplace safety for workers. Here’s what you need to know about OSHA, its importance, and more.
What is OSHA compliance?
OSHA compliance involves adhering to all OSHA regulations that apply to your business. The result is a workplace that is free from serious dangers that could present a danger to employees.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal regulatory agency within the Department of Labor. The agency was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1970 (OSH Act). President Nixon signed the legislation when the death toll was at its peak, and the public demanded that workers be protected with a law.
OSHA Compliance involves ensuring that all safety laws and regulations are enforced. OSHA has strict regulations designed to protect workers from workplace hazards. Employers are required to adhere to the occupational health and safety standards outlined by OSHA.
All safety precautions and safety programs should be in place to ensure that workers are protected from potentially dangerous hazards. To comply with OSHA standards, it is essential to carefully review the OSHA regulations in your area and ensure that all regulatory requirements are met. This will help you ensure the safety of your employees at all times.
Why should i care about OSHA compliance?
Since its inception in 1970, OSHA has had a good run, with workplace fatalities down more than 65 percent. In addition, accidents at work and occupational diseases have also decreased considerably since then. However, more recent studies have shown that the number of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities has increased in recent years. This reinforces the need for OSHA compliance in the workplace.
Notably, adhering to OSHA standards and implementing a well-organized safety program helps businesses save money. Accidents and work on site can result in significant medical and legal costs for businesses. In order to avoid these expenses, it is imperative to train employees in workplace safety and have an appropriate safety program in place. This will not only prevent costly incidents, but also increase worker productivity and morale.
How do I comply with OSHA compliance requirements?
In order to comply with OSHA standards, it helps to know the essence of what OSHA is. Employers who typically ask what OSHA compliance is are generally concerned about the steps that can be taken to implement OSHA requirements in the workplace. Here are the critical steps involved in OSHA compliance.
- Hazard Communication Plan (PSD): The first step is to create an HCP and circulate it among employees. This should include the most common workplace hazards and what can be done to avoid them.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): If there are known hazards associated with your workplace, appropriate PPE should be provided to employees. In addition, appropriate training should be provided to help staff know how to use and maintain the equipment.
- Industrial first aid kit: Have an industrial first aid kit in place at the workplace. An excellent first aid kit will contain the appropriate supplies for common hazards associated with a particular workplace.
- Display an OSHA infographic: To maintain OSHA compliance, employers are required to display an OSHA poster in the workplace. This should contain all OSHA rights and other critical information relevant to workers.
- Make the workplace safer: Proactively identify potential hazards and their causes, and design a workplace that avoids those causes. Decluttering and cleaning is the first step towards achieving this goal.
- Maintain impeccable relationships: Employers are required to report any significant health or safety incident to OSHA. Whether it is a work-related illness, injury or death, the company must file a report with the local OSHA office.
- Design an effective fire drill and provide fire safety training: To be OSHA compliant, employers are required to provide fire safety training to workers and have an effective fire plan in place. In addition to providing training on how to use firefighting equipment, employers should add more emergency exits to the building that meet OSHA standards and fire department regulations.
- Have an emergency action plan and conduct emergency training: This will help your worker prepare for the worst. Having an emergency action plan and training will increase the ability of your workers to deal with any incident that occurs on site.
- COVID-19 Tips: The latest OSHA guidelines released in April 2021 require workers to be vaccinated and wear masks indoors to limit the spread of the virus. Employers must take the initiative to conduct vaccination campaigns for workers and make masks mandatory on site.
What happens if I do not comply with OSHA compliance requirements?
If your business does not meet all OSHA requirements, you are likely to attract citations and penalties from your local OSHA office. Companies that receive OSHA citations have a limited time to pay or appeal their citation. Failure to do so will often lead to heavy penalties and costly consequences.
Having an OSHA citation on the company’s record will hamper that company’s ability to secure government contracts and tenders. To avoid this, contact your local OSHA authorities to find out which safety standard applies, and then implement policies to ensure compliance. However, the responsibility does not end there, as employers must review their safety policy from time to time to ensure its relevance.
Conclusion
Your employees are one of the main reasons you started your business. Proper training of your employees will allow them to work without fear of injury or death, which is essential for your business.
Interesting related article: “Why regulations are needed in the construction industry”