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Unit 16 OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

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Purpose

• Insure health and safety of employees

• Protect the environment within the employment site

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Duties of employers

• Specific standards

• General duty clause

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Standard Setting

• Designed to protect employees

• Based on scientific understanding

• Scientific uncertainty

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Compliance & Enforcement

• Recordkeeping– MSDS– Incidents

• Inspections at reasonable times

• Investigations– Accidents– Complaints

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Compliance & Enforcement

• Trade secrets

• Variations, Tolerances & exemptions

• Imminent dangers

• Civil penalties– Willful violations– Serious violations

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Compliance & Enforcement

• Criminal violations– Willful violations resulting in death– Subsequent violations– Giving advance notice of inspections– Knowing false statement

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State programs

• Subject to OSHA approval

• May be more stringent than the federal

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Research & Assistance

• National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)

• Grants, research & education

• Collection & publication of statistics

• Economic assistance to small business

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Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)

• Exempted from routine inspections

• Meet or exceed all standards

• Fewer injuries/lost days

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Links

• http://www.dol.state.nc.us/

• http://www.dol.gov/

• http://www.osha.gov/index.html

• Toxic releases• http://www.epa.gov/tri/tri98/index.htm