Employer's Obligation
OSHA standards require an employer to render the workplace free of certain hazards by any feasible and effective means which the employer wishes to use.
Hazards describe the surface causes (conditions) for accidents in the workplace.
OSHA's General Duty Clause requires that:
"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."
This section also states:
"The employer shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act."
The following are examples of some types of hazardous exposures that employers have an obligation to prevent according to the General Duty Clause and various OSHA standards:
- Employees are working at the unguarded edge of an open-sided floor 30 feet above the ground in apparent violation of 1926.501(b)(1). The regulation requires that the edge of the open-sided floor be guarded by standard guardrail systems. The type of hazard the employer must prevent is a fall from the edge of the floor to the ground below.
- Employees are working in an area in which debris is located in apparent violation of 1915.91(b). The type of hazard the employer must prevent is employees tripping on debris.
- An 8-hour time-weighted average sample reveals regular, ongoing employee overexposure to methylene chloride at 100 ppm in apparent violation of 1910.1052. The type of hazard the employer must prevent is exposure to methylene chloride above the PEL mandated by the standard (25 ppm).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-4. According to the General Duty Clause, employers must furnish employment and a workplace free from hazards that are causing or are likely to cause _____.
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