There are many safety laws and regulations that control how businesses operate in the United States. In this lesson, we'll take a closer look at these laws and regulations and see how they affect businesses. You will also learn to follow good safety procedures in your working environment.
Safe Work Environments
OSHA logoThe United States has strict laws to help keep workers safe. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires employers to provide safe working environments for all employees.
OSHA requires employers to keep a workplace that is free of dangers that they know or should know about. Dangers that are likely to cause death or serious physical injury are called "recognized hazards." Hazards can range from unsafe conditions like broken equipment or toxic chemicals to reckless behavior like using chain saws with one hand. OSHA requires employers to use reasonable judgment to detect and eliminate hazards in the workplace. If you can walk through your work area and find safety problems, they must be fixed!
The most common causes of workplace accidents are those that are easily fixed with a healthy dose of caution and common sense. Most accidents are caused by taking shortcuts in safety procedures, overconfidence in one's skills, lack of organization, mental distractions and a lack of preparation.
safety cone and hard hatOSHA requires employers to provide tools, equipment and safety supplies that are in good working condition. It also requires them to train and supervise employees. In addition, employers must submit accident reports, keep good records, and submit to periodic OSHA inspections. Posters that inform workers of their rights and obligations must also be posted in the workplace.
OSHA gives employees certain rights to take action to ensure that their workplace is safe. Workers may file complaints with OSHA if unsafe working conditions are found, and employees may even refuse to perform work they think is unsafe. Companies are strictly forbidden from punishing workers who file these complaints. Companies who violate worker's rights under OSHA law are subject to fines, penalties, or even jail time.
When the OSHA law was first passed in 1970, it threw out all existing state laws about safety and health in the workplace. If a state wanted to keep its own laws, it had to submit a plan to the Secretary of Labor for approval. If the plan was accepted, the state's law could be used. If not, the OSHA laws would stand.
The states with approved plans became known as "state plan states" and employers in these states must follow state regulations, not OSHA. The state plan states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.
The EPA and Safety Data Sheets
EPA logoThe United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an agency of the U.S. federal government. The EPA was created to protect human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA often works with OSHA to protect workers and the public from harm.
As part of this effort, the EPA produces safety data sheets (SDS), material safety data sheets (MSDS), and product safety data sheets (PSDS). These documents will provide workers and emergency personnel with procedures for handling or working with a possibly hazardous material. The data sheets include information like a physical description of the material, its toxicity and health effects, first aid instructions, chemical reactivity, safe storage, safe disposal, protective equipment and spill-handling procedures.
Data sheets have become very popular with regulatory agencies who want to fully educate everyone on dangerous materials and handling procedures. If you work with hazardous materials for your job, then be sure to carefully read through the safety data sheets for those materials!
Safety Procedures for Computer Workers
Most computer workers don't face big safety concerns like hazardous materials or heavy equipment. What possible health and safety risks do you have if you sit at a computer desk all day? According to OSHA studies, computer workers face the most long-term health risks from bad ergonomic positions. Ergonomics is the study of how your physical workstation and environment can positively or negatively affect your health.
OSHA worksation ergonomics posterFor example, if you are using a monitor that is too far away, you may have to squint to read words, producing eye strain and headaches. If your desk chair is too high or too low, then you may develop neck strain from looking at the monitor at an odd angle. Frequent typing on a keyboard when the arms and elbows are in uncomfortable positions can make your wrists sore and even lead to painful Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (when nerves become pinched).
OSHA guidelines and safety procedures for computer workers can be found on their website. Click on the link below to review some of the OSHA suggestions!
OSHA has an eTool for Computer Workstations, part of which is shown to the right. This tool gives principles for the best positioning of your head, arms, feet, and back in relation to your computer, monitor, and desk chair.
The OSHA website has many other ergonomic suggestions as well! You can find information about purchasing the best workstation chairs, being aware of your working process (recognizing the need to take breaks), and configuring the best lighting and ventilation in your work environment.
Safety at School
Your school classroom may have similar safety concerns to professional workplace environments. When using computers at school, can you follow good ergonomic rules to avoid eye, wrist, and back strain? Are there any cleaning supplies or lab chemicals that should be used with caution? Are there known tripping hazards or other safety concerns that you need to recognize? In the exercise below, you will take some time to discuss safety in your local environment with your teacher.
Answer the following and respond back to this assignment.
1. What is the purpose of OSHA?
2. What are some examples of recognized hazards?
3. What are some common causes of workplace accidents?
4. What protections do employees have when reporting safety issues?
5. How do some states follow their own safety plans instead of OSHA?
6. What is the purpose of the EPA?
7. What kind of information is on a Safety Data Sheet?
8. What is the most important health and safety consideration for computer workers?
9. What kinds of safety procedures does OSHA recommend for computer workers?
10. What safety considerations does your school and classroom share with workplaces?
11. What special safety rules or procedures should you follow in your school and classroom?
The lesson text provides an in-depth look at safety laws and regulations in the United States, specifically focusing on the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It emphasizes the importance of creating safe work environments for employees, detailing the responsibilities of employers to identify and eliminate hazards in the workplace. The text also discusses the rights of employees to report safety issues and protections against retaliation from employers.
It covers the role of the EPA in producing safety data sheets for hazardous materials and outlines the importance of following ergonomic guidelines for computer workers to prevent long-term health risks. The text also prompts students to consider safety procedures in their school environments and provides questions for further discussion and reflection.
Overall, the lesson text effectively conveys the importance of workplace safety regulations, the role of OSHA and the EPA in protecting workers, and the need for individuals to be proactive in ensuring their own safety in various work environments.
Bot GPT 3.5