OSHA: Understanding Worker Rights, Employer Responsibilities, and Standards, Exercises of Construction

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Introduction to

OSHA

Directorate of Training and Education OSHA Training Institute

Lesson Overview

Purpose:

• To provide workers with introductory information about OSHA Topics:
  1. Why is OSHA important to you?
  2. What rights do you have under OSHA?
  3. What responsibilities does your employer have under OSHA?
  4. What are OSHA standards?
  5. How are OSHA inspections conducted?
  6. Where can you go for help?

• OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor
• OSHA’s responsibility is to improve worker safety and health protection  On December 29, 1970, President Nixon signed the OSH Act  This Act created OSHA, the agency, which formally came into being on April 28, 1971

History of OSHA

OSHA’s Mission

• The 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.
• Some of the things OSHA does to carry out its mission are:
  • Developing job safety and health standards and enforcing them through worksite inspections
  • Providing training programs to increase knowledge about occupational safety and health

Worker Rights

Handout #1: OSHA Poster

• Have you seen this poster at your place of work?
• Why was OSHA created?

• Worker Protection is Law: The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act)
• OSHA was created to provide workers the right to a safe and healthful workplace
• It is the duty of the employers to provide workplaces that are free of known dangers that could harm their employees
• This law also gives workers important rights to participate in activities to ensure their protection from job hazards Your Right to…

• OSHA’s Recordkeeping rule requires most employers with more than 10 workers to keep a log of injuries and illnesses
• Workers have the right to report an injury* and review current log
• Workers also have the right to view the annually posted summary of the injuries and illnesses (OSHA 300A) Your Right to… *It is against the OSHA law to retaliate or discriminate against a worker for reporting an injury or illness

• Workers may bring up safety and health concerns in the workplace to their employers without fear of discharge or discrimination
• OSHA rules protect workers who raise concerns to their employer or OSHA about unsafe or unhealthful conditions in the workplace Your Right to…

• 1910.1020: right to examine & copy records
• Examples of toxic substances and harmful physical agents are:
  • Metals and dusts, such as, lead, cadmium, and silica
  • Biological agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi
  • Physical stress, such as noise, heat, cold, vibration, repetitive motion, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation Your Right to…

• Workers may file a confidential complaint with OSHA if they believe a violation of a safety or health standard, or an imminent danger situation, exists in the workplace
• Workers may request that their name not be revealed to the employer
• If a worker files a complaint, they have the right to find out OSHA’s action on the complaint and request a review if an inspection is not made Your Right to… Note: Often the best and fastest way to get a hazard corrected is to notify your supervisor or employer.

• Workers have the right to be free from retaliation for exercising safety and health rights
• Workers have a right to seek safety and health on the job without fear of punishment
• This right is spelled out in Section 11(c) of the OSH Act
• Workers have 30 days to contact OSHA if they feel they have been punished for exercising their safety and health rights Your Right to…

• Provide a workplace free from recognized hazards and comply with OSHA standards
• Provide training required by OSHA standards
• Keep records of injuries and illnesses
• Provide medical exams when required by OSHA standards and provide workers access to their exposure and medical records
• Not discriminate against workers who exercise their rights under the Act (Section 11(c))
• Post OSHA citations and hazard correction notices
• Provide and pay for most PPE

Topic 4:

What are OSHA Standards?

OSHA standards are:

• Rules that describe the methods employers must use to protect employees from hazards
• Designed to protect workers from a wide range of hazards Four Groups of OSHA Standards General Industry Construction Maritime Agriculture* *General Industry is the set that applies to the largest number of workers and worksites Where there are no specific standards, employers must comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act.

OSHA Standards (cont.)

These standards also:

• Limit the amount of hazardous chemicals, substances, or noise that workers can be exposed to
• Require the use of certain safe work practices and equipment
• Require employers to monitor certain hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses