Workplace Risk and OSHA

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Workers have the right to a safe workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) was passed to prevent workers from being killed or seriously harmed at work. The law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers. The Act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards. OSHA also provides information, training, and assistance to workers and employers. Workers may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe that their employer is not following OSHA standards or that there are serious hazards.

Almost every worker in the U.S. is covered either under Federal OSHA or through OSHA-approved state programs. State programs have to be at least as effective as federal programs. OSHA covers private sector employees, state and local employees, and federal government workers. Those not covered under OSHA include the self-employed, family members on family farms that do not hire outside workers, and workers who work in industries that have other federal oversight such as the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration.

OSHA standards are rules that describe the methods that employers must use to protect their employees from hazards. These standards limit the amount of hazardous chemicals workers can be exposed to, require the use of certain safe practices and equipment, and require employers to monitor hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses. Examples of OSHA standards include requirements to provide fall protection, prevent trenching cave-ins, prevent some infectious diseases, assure that workers safely enter confined spaces, prevent exposure to harmful substances like asbestos, put guards on machines, provide respirators or other safety equipment, and provide training for certain dangerous jobs.

OSHA provides a wide variety of information on safety practices through OSHA Factsheets. Even teens are covered under OSHA's laws. Because many teens work in the fast-food industry, OSHA has a special interactive tool to make them aware of the hazards they might encounter.

Self-Assessment

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