7 Tips for Making Sure Your Business is Compliant with OSHA
OSHA refers to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was passed in 1970. This government act requires United States employers and business owners to meet certain standards regarding the health and safety of their businesses and employees. Though federal regulations can seem overwhelming, following these simple seven tips will help ensure your business is compliant with OSHA.
1. Understand your responsibilities as an employer.
The main responsibility as an employer is to provide a workplace that is free of hazards that are likely to cause serious physical injury or death. In factories, this means making sure that all the machinery follows safety codes. In small businesses and retail stores, this means following proper shelving and storage guidelines, as well as adhering to health standards.
2. Keep a record of illnesses and injuries.
If your business has more than ten employees at any point over the course of a calendar year, you are required to keep a record of any illnesses or injuries sustained on the job. They should be recorded on OSHA Form 300, which is the log of illnesses and injuries in the workplace. Some employers in insurance, service, real estate, and finance industries will not be required to keep these records, so you should double check whether yours is covered or not.
3. Display OSHA information in the workplace.
OSHA has a poster called the Safe and Healthful Workplaces poster. It provides information about the responsibilities of employers and the rights of employees under OSHA. Many employers choose to display this poster in the break room or, in industrial professions, out on a factory line. The poster must be placed somewhere that it will be conspicuous and accessible to all employees.
4. Train your employees regarding dangerous materials.
Sometimes dangerous materials are unavoidable. Machinery, regardless of the number of safety precautions used, will always carry some risk. Sometimes employees will also need to handle potentially dangerous chemicals and other materials.
In these cases, it’s the responsibility of the employers to train their employees. You must inform your employees regarding the dangers of the materials they’re working with. You must obtain their fully informed consent to work with these materials. You must also provide comprehensive training about how to use the materials along with the safeguards and protective measures that the employees should utilize.
Producers and importers of chemicals are required to evaluate levels of chemical hazards. They must also provide chemical hazard information to their customers.
5. Be prepared to have your business inspected.
All businesses are required to comply with OSHA standards in addition to any other state standards imposed. Because of this, all businesses are subject to inspection by a state or federal agency. Inspections are done by health and safety officers who have been trained in the minutiae of OSHA compliance and their knowledge of the health and safety field. Inspectors will enforce OSHA standards, so you should ensure that your business is ready for an inspection at any given time.
6. Consult OSHA publications and get a consultation if needed.
One of the nice things about OSHA is the amount of information available to the public. OSHA has created publications detailing health and safety information for dozens of different businesses. You can find these publications at the OSHA website to learn more details about making a small business compliant with the federal regulations.
You can also receive a consultation in your small business or factory in order to identify potential hazards. OSHA representatives will teach you how to correct these hazards. The consultation services are completely confidential and funded through OSHA.
7. Receive training courses.
The OSHA Training Institute is located in Illinois. If you aren’t close enough to the official training institute to receive a course, there are also twelve other training facilities scattered across the nation.
The most important thing is to familiarize yourself with OSHA’s regulations and standards regarding your particular business sector. All of the relevant compliance information is easily available online for consultation. You’ll even find information on how to go above and beyond basic compliance.
