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1995-01-22
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STANDARD NUMBER 1926.602
INFORMATION DATE 19920715
DESCRIPTION USDOL Program Highlights - Job Safety and Health
SUBJECT Job Safety and Health
U.S. Department of Labor
Program Highlights
Fact Sheet No. OSHA-92-01
Job Safety and Health
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, signed on
December 29, 1970 is designed "..to assure so far as possible every
working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working
conditions and to preserve our human resources."
In administering the Act, the Labor Department's Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues standards and rules for
safe and healthful working conditions, tools, equipment, facilities,
and processes. OSHA also conducts workplace inspections to assure the
standards are followed.
The Act and the standards issued by OSHA apply to every private
employer with one or more employees - except those covered by other
Federal legislation such as the Atomic Energy Act and the Coal Mine
Safety Act. Federal OSHA covers about 56 million employees at 3.6
million workplaces; states and territories which administer their own
approved OSHA programs cover an additional 37 million employees at 2.4
million worksites.
Under the Act, employers have the general duty of providing
their workers employment and a place of employment free from recognized
hazards to safety and health, and must comply with OSHA standards.
When OSHA compliance officers discover hazards in establishments
during inspections, employers may be issued citations listing alleged
violations, and penalties and abatement periods may be proposed.
Employers may contest these before the independent Occupational
Safety and Health Review Commission - a three-member board appointed by
the President - which presumes the employer to be free of violations and
puts the burden of proof on OSHA.
Employees must comply with standards and with job safety and
health rules and regulations applying to their own conduct. They or
their representatives have the right to file a complaint with OSHA
requesting a workplace inspection; complainants' names may be withheld
from the employer. They have the right, on request, to be advised of
OSHA actions regarding their complaint and to have an informal review
made of any OSHA decision not to inspect. Employees also may attend the
employer's informal conference with OSHA to discuss any issues raised by
an inspection, citation, notice of proposed penalty or abatement period.
Many of OSHA's standards are not new. Business has operated
under them for years as national consensus standards -- those agreed upon
by members of groups such as the American National Standards Institute
and the National Fire Protection Association -- or federal standards
established under other laws, such as the Public Contracts Act.
In developing new or amended standards, OSHA invites full
participation by employers and employees and gives their views full
consideration before issuing final standards.
Detailed information on employer and employee rights and
responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act is
available from any of OSHA's 95 field offices (found under "U.S.
Government, Department of Labor" telephone listings).
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This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of
Labor programs. It is intended as a general description only and does
not carry the force of legal opinion. This information will be made
available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202)
523-8151. TDD message referal phone: 1-800-326-2577.