"Recognized" Hazards
Students often ask about what counts as a 'recognized' hazard in the workplace. According to OSHA's Field Compliance Manual, a hazard is recognized based on three criteria: industry recognition, employer recognition, or 'common sense' recognition. Let's examine each category to understand how OSHA defines recognized hazards.
Is there a recognized hazard here? Absolutely.
- Industry Recognition: A hazard is recognized if the employer's industry recognizes it.
- Employer Recognition: A recognized hazard can be established by evidence of actual employer knowledge. Evidence may consist of previous written or oral statements by managers, supervisors, and employees clearly recognizing the hazard.
- Common Sense Recognition: If industry or employer recognition of the hazard cannot be established, recognition can still be established if it is concluded that any reasonable person would have recognized the hazard. This argument is used by OSHA only in flagrant cases.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-2. During an inspection, the OSHA compliance officer cited a machine guarding violation which had been previously reported to a supervisor. What type of recognition would OSHA use as a basis for the citation?
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