MightyRecruiterIf you plan on opening a brick-and-mortar location for your business, then it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA was established to prevent workplace illnesses, injuries and deaths. To help you understand the basics of the organization, learn answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding OSHA.
1. Question: When and how was OSHA created?
1970 was the year President Richard Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was created by Congress.
2. Question: What is the size of OSHA’s budget, and how many inspections have they conducted?
As of the 2016 fiscal year, OSHA’s budget is roughly $552,800,000. In the 2015 fiscal year, the organization conducted about 35,800 federal inspections and an estimated 43,500 State Plan inspections.
3. Question: How many work-related deaths happen every year in the U.S.?
As of 2014, roughly 4,700 U.S. employees were killed on the job. This averages out to 90 employees a week, or in excess of 13 every day. Workplace fatalities that dealt with contractors made up nearly 20 percent all fatalities in the workplace in 2014.
4. Question: What are OSHA’s inspection priorities?
The most important thing OSHA representatives check for when conducting an inspection is imminent dangers that are likely to happen soon. Next are workplace accidents or deaths that are dire enough that at least three workers were sent home. Third on the list of inspection priorities are employee complaints.Inspectors might also check out referrals from other government entities as well as targeted inspections like the Site Specific Targeting Program. Lastly, OSHA inspectors might also conduct follow-up inspections.
5. Question: What are some standard OSHA violation penalties?
The monetary penalty for violating OSHA’s standards ranges from $0 to $70,000. The reason for this range is that it depends on the likelihood that the violation will result in extreme harm to employees. If the violation isn’t considered to be a serious one, the employer might not be penalized, or she or he may be hit with a monetary penalty of up to $7,000. If the violation has happened before and is willful, OSHA might levy a penalty for as much as $70,000. If there aren’t many employees in the workplace, the employer has conducted business in good faith or if the employer doesn’t have any past violations, penalties might be softened.
6. Question: What if I don’t agree with OSHA’s findings?
If you aren’t in agreement with any violations OSHA finds, know that you have a right to contest a citation, which occurs in front of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Know that you must first file a notice of your actions within 15 business days of receiving your citation.
7. Question: Is there a way to find out about OSHA inspections of my workplace or other companies?
There is an online inspection database OSHA maintains that you can use to search for your company and others either by name or by Standard Industrial Classification code. If you like, you can narrow your search by year or state.
8. Question: Who is responsible for maintaining records of workplace illnesses and injuries?
About 20 percent of the commercial establishments OSHA covers make up roughly 1.3 million employers who have at least 11 employees. These employers have to keep and maintain records of all workplace illnesses and injuries. Retail, finance, service, real estate and insurance are all considered low-hazard industries, and as such employers of these sectors are not required to keep records of any illnesses or injuries that occur in the workplace. Business owners in every industry should be sure they are always in compliance with the latest OSHA standards and requirements. Being well informed helps exponentially with avoiding hazards in the workplace.
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The content on our website is only meant to provide general information and is not legal advice. We make our best efforts to make sure the information is accurate, but we cannot guarantee it. Do not rely on the content as legal advice. For assistance with legal problems or for a legal inquiry please contact you attorney.