669 HAZWOPER for General Site Workers X

OSHA Standards: Protection on the Job

Employers can be cited for violating the General Duty Clause if there is a recognized hazard and they do not take appropriate steps to prevent or abate the hazard. Citations can only be based on standards, regulations, and the General Duty Clause.

OSHA standards are rules that describe the methods that employers must use to protect their employees from hazards. There are four groups of OSHA standards:

1. General Industry,
2. Construction,
3. Maritime, and
4. Agriculture.

The General Industry is the set that applies to the largest number of workers and worksites. These standards are designed to protect workers from a wide range of hazards.

These standards also:

• limit the amount of hazardous chemicals, substances, or noise that workers can be exposed to;
• require the use of certain safe work practices and equipment; and
• require employers to monitor certain hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Examples of OSHA standards include requirements to:
• Provide fall protection, such as a safety harness and lifeline;
• Prevent trenching cave-ins;
• Ensure the safety of workers who enter confined spaces such as manholes or grain bins;
• Prevent exposure to high levels of noise that can damage hearing;
• Put guards on machines;
• Prevent exposure to harmful levels of substances like asbestos and lead;
• Provide workers with respirators and other needed safety equipment (in almost all cases, free of charge);
• Provide healthcare workers with needles and sharp instruments that have built-in safety features to prevent skin punctures or cuts that could cause exposure to infectious diseases; and
• Train workers using a language and vocabulary they understand about hazards and how to protect themselves.

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