Employer Responsibilities Under the OSHA Act

OSHA has developed very specific responsibilities for employers covered by the Act.  OSHA doesn’t have to explain  these responsibilities  to  you  when  they  visit  until  the  Closing  Conference. It  is  the  employer’s responsibility to know what OSHA requires. These responsibilities are important and failure to know them can add thousands of dollars in fines.

Responsibilities - The Employer Must:

• Meet  general  duty  responsibilities  to  provide  a  workplace  free  from  recognized  hazards  that  are causing  or  are  likely  to  cause  death  or  serious  physical  harm  to  employees,  and  comply  with standards, rules and regulations issued under the Act.
• Be familiar with mandatory OSHA standards and make copies available to employees upon request.
• Inform all employees about OSHA.
• Examine workplace conditions to make sure they conform to applicable standards.
• Minimize or reduce hazards.
• Make sure employees have and use safe tools and equipment (including appropriate personal protective equipment) and that such equipment is properly maintained.
• Use color codes, posters, labels or signs when needed to warn employees of potential hazards.
• Establish or update operating procedures and communicate them so that employees follow safety and health requirements.
• Provide medical examinations when required by OSHA standards.
• Provide training required by OSHA standards and document the training.
• Report to the nearest OSHA office within 8 hours any fatal accident or one that results in the hospitalization of three or more employees.
• If 11 or more persons are employed, keep OSHA required records of work-related injuries and illnesses and post a copy of the totals from the last page of OSHA 300-300A Summary during the entire month of February, March and April each year.
• Post at a prominent location within the workplace, the OSHA poster (OSHA 2203) informing employees of their rights and responsibilities (In states operating OSHA approved job safety and health programs, the state’s equivalent poster and/or OSHA 2203 may be required).
• Provide employees, former employees and their representatives access to the Log and Summary of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA No. 300 & 300A) at a reasonable time and in a reasonable manner.
• Provide employees or their representatives access to employee medical and exposure records.
• Cooperate with the OSHA compliance officer by furnishing names of authorized employee representatives who may be asked to accompany the compliance officer during an inspection (If none, the compliance officer will consult with a reasonable number of employees concerning safety and health in the workplace).
• Do not discriminate against employees who properly exercise their rights under the Act.
• Post  OSHA  citations  at  or  near  the  work  site  involved  until  the  violation  has  been  abated  or  for  3 working days, whichever is longer.
• Correct violations within the prescribed period.
• Contact  OSHA  within  8  hours  of  a  death  case  of  injury  requiring  3  or  more  employees  to  be hospitalized from the same accident.
• Be  provided  with  a  copy  of  any  written  complaint  filed by it’s employees at the time of an actual inspection.

Please check your procedures and ensure these responsibilities are communicated to your management staff. The time you spend may result in fewer OSHA violations and Fines.

Please let us know if you have any questions, 1-800-486-6652.