Employee Rights
Your Right to a Safe and Healthful Workplace
OSHA was created to provide workers the right to a safe and healthful workplace. Let's look at what the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) says about employer and employee duties.
You have a right to a safe and healthful workplace.
(a) Each employer --
- shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;
- shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.
(b) Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.
Employer obligations. Section 5(a) says employers must:
- furnish safe employment (work, jobs) and a safe place of employment (the workplace, worksite);
- provide workplaces that are free of hazards that are known or should have been known by the employer;
- provide workplaces that are free of hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees; and
- comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.
Employee obligations. The section says employees must:
- comply with OSHA standards, and
- comply with employer rules, regulations, and orders which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-1. According to the OSH Act, the employer must keep the workplace free from _____ that can cause death or serious physical harm.
You forgot to answer the question!