Secretary Solis of the United States Department of Labor (DOL) has kicked off commemorative events across the country to honor fallen workers on Workers Memorial Day, April 28, 2012. The events showcase the tremendous urgency and vital importance of ensuring safe working conditions for all workers. The subject is particularly timely because it is also the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) 41st anniversary.
The OSH Act General Duty clause, 29 USC 654, requires the following:
- Each employer must maintain a safe workplace for his/her employees,
- Each employer must comply with occupational safety and health rules and regulations,
- Each employee must comply with occupational safety and health rules and regulations, and workplace policies established by his/her employer.
The OSH Act applies to the following:
- U.S.,
- District of Columbia,
- the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
- the Virgin Islands,
- American Samoa,
- Guam,
- the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,
- Wake Island,
- Outer Continental Shelf Lands defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act,
- Johnston Island, and
- the Canal Zone
Did you know there are State-Run OSH plans? States like Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington are just a few of the states with a State-Run OSH plan. These plans must be at least as effective as Federal OSHA in providing safe and healthful employment to workers. Safety posters serve as important part of fulfilling an employer’s obligations under the federal or State-Run plan. Give Compliance Poster Company’s Compliance Advisors a call to find out which safety products might be best for your workplace.
Don’t forget that the OSHA 300 annual summary needs to be posted in the workplace from February 1 until April 30 of each year.
