This fact sheet will give you -- the employer starting a new business -- basic information about OSHA requirements and additional publications to assist you in complying with those requirements.
Responsibilities
As an employer you are responsible under theOccupational Safety and Health Act to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to your employees. You must comply with standards, rules and regulations issued by OSHA under the Act. You must be familiar with the standards and make copies available to employees for review upon their request.
Standards
Copies of various OSHA standards may be purchased through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (phone 202-512-1800) (fax 202-512-2250). Payment may be made by check, GPO Deposit Account, or VISA or MasterCard. OSHA's regulations are contained in Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1900-1910. Standards covering General Industry are in two volumes: 29 CFR Parts 1901.1 to 1910.999, GPO Order No. S/N 869-032-00104-9; and 29 CFR. Parts 1910.1000 to end, GPO Order No. S/N 869-032-00105-7. An electronic copy of the text of OSHA regulations, documents, and technical information also is available on CD-ROM and is upadated quarterly, GPO Order No. S/N 729-013-00000-5. (See also Electronic Information below.)
Recordkeeping
Most employers of 11 or more employees are required to maintain records of occupational injuries and illnesses as they occur. Employers with 10 or fewer employees and employers regardless of size in certain industries are exempt from keeping such records unless they are selected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to participate in the Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
OSHA recordkeeping is not required for employers in retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate and service industries--Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 522-89 (except building material and garden supplies, SIC 52; general merchandise and food stores, SIC 53 and 54; hotels and other lodging places, SIC 70; repair services, SIC 75 and 76; amusement and recreation services, SIC 79; and health services, SIC 80).
Two forms are needed for recordkeeping: OSHA No. 200, Log and Summary of Occupational Supplementary Record of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Copies of OSHA recordkeeping forms are available through the OSHA Publications Office, Room N-3101, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210 (telephone 202-219-4667) (fax 202-219-9662). A publication,Recordkeeping Guidelines for Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, (phone 202-512-1800) (fax 202-512-2250); GPO Order No. 029-016-00165-4.
OSHA Poster
Every employer must post in a prominent location in the workplace the Job Safety and Health Protection workplace poster (OSHA 2203 or state equivalent) which informs employees of their rights and responsibilities under the Act. The poster may be obtained through the OSHA Publications Office or downloaded from OSHA's Home Page (see Electronic Information below.)
Hazard Communication
The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to inform their workers of the potential dangers of any chemical hazards on the job, and to train them in proper safeguards. This includes information on the hazards and identities of chemicals they are exposed to when working and the protective measures available to prevent adverse effects.
Employers who use the chemicals, rather than produce or import them, are not required to evaluate the hazards of those chemicals. Hazard determination is the responsibility of the producers and importers of the materials who then must provide the hazard information to employers who purchase their products. All employers must have a written workplace compliance program.
Copies of the Hazard Communication Standard and the publication, Chemical Hazard Communication (OSHA 3084 Revised), are available through the OSHA Publication Office. Another publication, Hazard Communication Guidelines for Compliance (OSHA 3111), can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (phone 202-512-1800) (fax 202-512-2250). It is GPO Order No. 029-016-00163-8.
A compliance kit on the standard entitled Hazard Communication -- A Compliance Kit -- can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (phone 202-512-1800) (fax 202-512-2250), Order No. 029-016-00147-6. The kit contains detailed information on how to establish hazard communication and training programs, and explains material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and requests for MSDSs, and training or other records.
Inspections
OSHA conducts workplace inspections to enforce its standards. Every establishment covered by the Act is subject to inspection by OSHA compliance safety and health officers, who are chosen for their knowledge and experience in the occupational safety and health field. The booklet, OSHA Inspections (OSHA 2098), is available through the OSHA Publications Office or online at OSHA's Home Page.
OSHA Offices
OSHA Regional and Area Offices and a national map are listed in OSHA Publication 3046 and Program Highlight 98-42. Both items are available from the OSHA Publications Office and online at OSHA's Home Page. (See Electronic Information below.)
State Programs
The Occupational Safety and Health Act encourages states to develop and operate their own job safety and health plans. OSHA approves and monitors these state plans and provides up to 50 percent of an approved plan's operating costs. States must set job safety and health standards at least as effective as comparable federal standards. (Most states adopt standards identical to federal ones.) Twenty-three states or jurisdictions operate complete state plans covering both the private sector and state and local government employees. Two others, Connecticut and New York, cover public employees only. A fact sheet, State Job Safety and Health Programs (OSHA Program Highlights No. 15), is available through the OSHA Publications Office.
Consultation
Employers who want help in recognizing and correcting hazards and in improving safety and health programs can get it from a free consultation service largely funded by OSHA and delivered by State government using well-trained professional staff. A booklet, Consultation Services for the Employer (OSHA 3047), is available through the OSHA Publications Office.
Training
Training courses in safety and health subjects are available to the private sector through the OSHA Training Institute, 1555 Times Dr., Des Plaines, IL 60018 and at eight education centers. For information on the subjects, dates, tuition, and location of these courses telephone the Institute Registrar (847-297-4913) or write to the Institute.
Small Businesses
There are booklets in OSHA's Small Business Safety Management Series to help small businesses comply with OSHA requirements. These include OSHA Handbook for Small Businesses (OSHA 2209), GPO Order No. 029-016-00176-0; and, Assessing the Need for Personal Protective Equipment: A Guide for Small Business Employers (OSHA 3151), Order No. 029-016-00179-4. Both items can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-93259 (phone 202-512-1800) (fax 202-512-2250). These products are also available on OSHA's Home Page. A flyer for small business employers,Keeping Your Workplace Safe: Q's & A's for Small Business Employer, provides an overview of OSHA services and can be downloaded from OSHA's Home Page.
Publications Catalog
A catalog, OSHA Publications and Audiovisual Programs (OSHA 2019), lists various OSHA products and is available from the OSHA Publications Office.
Electronic Information
OSHA standards, interpretation, directives, publications, and additional information are available or can be ordered online from OSHA's Home Page at http://www.osha.gov.
The available material includes OSHA standards (electronically linked to preambles and interpretations), Federal Register notices, the field compliance manual, directives, asbestos and cadmium expert advisors on complying with the two standards, the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual, most frequently violated standards by SIC, news releases, speeches, testimony, selected publications, the Training Institute schedule, OSHA office directories, the regulatory agenda, Bureau of Labor Statistics data on injuries and illnesses, and other OSHA-related material. Other government web sites such as the U.S. Business Advisor can be reached through the OSHA Home Page.
For example, to search for OSHA standards, go to the OSHA Home Page and select Standards, or Federal Register Notices. For information on specific chemicals or substances, go to Technical Information. See also categories on Compliance Assistance, Programs and Services, and OSHA Software/Advisors. For the nearest OSHA regional, area, or state office, go to Office Directory. In addition, OSHA has interactive compliance assistance software, OSHA Expert Systems, or Advisors, to help respond to individual compliance questions. These deal with confined spaces, asbestos, and cadmium. A new text version on fire safety also is available. These can be downloaded from OSHA's Home Page under OSHA Software/Advisors.
Emergencies
To report life-threatening situations, catastrophes, or fatalities, call (800) 321-OSHA. Complaints will go immediately to the nearest OSHA area or state office for help.