744 Working with OSHA

Employer Responsibilities

Establish a Safe and Healthful Workplace

• Maintain conditions and adopt practices reasonably necessary to protect workers on the job. The first and best strategy is to control the hazard at its source. To do that, the employer can:

  • eliminate or remove the hazard;
  • substitute or replace the hazard; and
  • equipment design or redesign.

  The basic concept behind elimination, substitution, and design controls is that, to the extent feasible, the work environment and the job itself should be designed to eliminate hazards or reduce the severity of the hazards.

  More information on the "Hierarchy of Controls" strategy for controlling hazards.

  • Elimination or Substitution eliminating or substituting a hazard to reduce risk. Examples include using a pole to change ceiling lights and replacing a toxic cleaner with a non-toxic biodegradable cleaner.
  • Engineering controls include equipment design and redesign, and isolating the exposure source. Examples include installing local exhaust ventilation, placing machine safeguards to prevent exposure to hazardous moving parts, and indirect lighting to reduce eye strain.
  • Warnings such as signs, barrier tape, and alarms help employees become aware of hazards.
  • Work Practice Controls usually involve developing policies and procedures to control actions. Examples include limiting the duration a workers is exposed to a hazardous source, good housekeeping practices, and safety rules.
  • Personal Protective Equipment is used when exposure to hazards cannot be engineered completely out of normal operations or maintenance work, and when safe work practices and other forms of administrative controls cannot provide sufficient additional protection. PPE includes wearing the proper respiratory protection and clothing.

• Be familiar with the standards that apply to their workplaces, and comply with these standards.
• Ensure workers are provided with and use personal protective equipment when needed. When exposure to hazards cannot be engineered completely out of normal operations or maintenance work, and when safe work practices and other forms of administrative controls cannot provide sufficient additional protection, an additional method of control is the use of protective clothing or equipment. This is collectively called personal protective equipment, or PPE. PPE may also be appropriate for controlling hazards while engineering and work practice controls are being installed.

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