What’s OSHA and Why Do I Care?

Most everyone who has ever worked on a construction jobsite has heard talk of OSHA, but what is it and what does it mean for each of us?

OSHA is an acronym that stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA is part of the United States Department of Labor. The purpose of the congressionally instituted act was and is to protect the most valuable national resource, the health and lives of workers in the United States of America. Since 1970, OSHA has helped companies and employers to do just that.

Since its inception, OSHA has:

• Helped cut the work-related fatality rate in half
• Worked with employers and employees to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses by 40%
• Virtually eliminated brown lung disease in the textile industry, and
• Reduced trenching and excavation fatalities by 35%

Despite this, worker safety continues to be a serious issue. In 2010, there were 751 fatalities in construction (one fifth of all fatalities recorded by OSHA). The leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites were: falls, electrocution, struck by object, and caught–in/between. These “Fatal Four” were responsible for nearly three out of five (57%) construction worker deaths in 2010. They are largely, if not all, preventable.

Although OSHA has a myriad of standards to ensure employee safety, there is one that sets the tone for all of the others. It is known as the General Duty Clause. It reads as follows:

1) Each employer –
a) 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;
b) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.

2) Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.

Did you notice that the standard covered not only employer responsibilities, but employee responsibility too? This helps to reinforce our company’s belief that as an employee, you are the most critical component associated with your personal safety. While we have a number of policies and rules that help to ensure that we, as a company, perform at a level of safety beyond OSHA requirements, you are your most important advocate. Because of this, our company wants to reassure you of the right, responsibilty and authority to stop work whenever you see something you believe to be unsafe.

With your help, we can all benefit from a safety jobsite.

For additional information, please check your company’s safety manual to see if there is a Stop Work or similar policy in effect.