Every worker has the right to a safe work environment.
OSHA, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, has established regulations for most industries and the particular areas of safety for those industries. Employers are required to provide workers with a safe working environment. Some states also have "state-specific rules" to follow. Every state has an OSHA office.
Safety on Every Job
OSHA continually develops regulations for employers to follow in order to keep workers safe. However, it is also the responsibility of employees to follow the rules set by their employing company. A written safety plan, employee and supervisor safety training and frequent safety-issue updates help each person at a workplace to know his rights and responsibilities.
General Safety Observation
General safety rules call for a safe work environment. Various aspects of any job are covered under general rules. Most specifically, the workplace should be checked often for any hazardous conditions or potential accidents. Employers and supervisors should observe all workplace areas. Recognizable hazards, whether they be toxic fumes, faulty tools and other equipment, workers not following safety regulations, blocked passageways, poor electrical or lighting equipment, as well as other hazards, should be dealt with promptly. Frequent walks through the work area will help persons in charge to use their senses in seeing, smelling or hearing unsafe conditions.
Safety reaches beyond the four walls of a building. Any area in which work is performed is considered the "workplace," and all safety rules apply to each of these areas.
It is also the right and the duty of workers to report unsafe working conditions, faulty equipment and other situations that could jeopardize anyone's safety.
Specific Types of Businesses
General safety standards apply to any workplace. However, there are OSHA safety regulations for specific types of workplaces, including construction, agricultural, mining and other industries.
Employers and supervisors, as well as employees, should be aware of the hazards and the safety precautions for their particular type of work and for all equipment used in that work.
Protective Clothing and Equipment
All employees should be provided with, and use, the proper protective clothing specific to their jobs. Everything from hardhats, safety masks or goggles, work gloves, safety boots, fall protection harnesses and coveralls might be needed. In other work situations, workers may need plastic gloves, paper face masks and sanitary lab-type coats. Every job may require protective equipment or clothing. These jobs can include changing a baby's diaper, fixing meals or manufacturing prepared foods, working 20 stories above the ground or on a slippery surface, handling hot, heavy or sharp equipment and a myriad of other work situations.
Housekeeping
Poor housekeeping procedures are a major cause of accidents. To prevent accidents, workers and supervisors should follow a few simple rules particular to their job. Keeping aisles, stairways and exit doors free from clutter are the responsibility of everyone in a work area. Cleaning up or reporting spills immediately is important for toxic and non-toxic liquids or other materials. Other housekeeping measures specific to the job will help prevent accidents.
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