OSHA plays a huge role in the modern workplace. Despite this, many business owners and their employees wonder: what does OSHA stand for — and what is the purpose of OSHA? The Department of Labor agency is responsible for promoting safer workplaces, and yet, for many, those standards remain mired in confusion.
A detailed understanding of OSHA is essential for maintaining compliance with the agency’s range of standards. Compliance with those standards is critical not only due to the potential consequences from OSHA, but also because it’s in the best interest of hardworking employees.
What is OSHA’s purpose?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration — OSHA for short — is an important agency that operates under the umbrella of the United States Department of Labor. Established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) of 1970, OSHA makes great efforts to keep employers compliant with strict safety standards. These include, among other things, standards surrounding the proper disposal of medical waste and other potentially hazardous material.
OSHA sets these and other standards in hopes of encouraging the health and safety of workers across the nation. The agency also promotes safety on the job by providing valuable training and resources. OSHA’s ongoing efforts are intended to reduce workplace injury rates without harming the economic viability of United States companies. OSHA oversees private-sector workers and some public-sector employees in all fifty states, as well as in several territories under federal jurisdiction.
What does OSHA do?
OSHA enacts a variety of policies to achieve the end goal of a safer and healthier workplace. Much of OSHA’s work involves education and outreach; the agency aims to keep the public informed of employers’ obligations while also giving these employers the knowledge and access to resources necessary to keep workplaces as safe as possible.
OSHA training and outreach efforts include hazard awareness classes, which, while not required at the federal level, may be mandated by localities or by some employers. Additionally, the agency provides an OSHA standards pdf that outlines issues that apply to many employers in the health care industry.
Regular OSHA Inspections
Perhaps most notably, OSHA conducts regular inspections to ensure that all employers remain in constant compliance with a variety of health and safety standards. These inspections are typically conducted without notice so that employers cannot pursue last-minute preparations to avoid detection of existing compliance issues. Scheduling may seem random, but it typically occurs based on local, regional, and national priorities, with referrals and whistle-blower complaints often also playing a role in inspection frequency.
If areas of noncompliance are uncovered during an inspection, the employer may be issued a notice for minor problems or a citation for more significant issues. Those granted notices or citations are given a deadline for fixing highlighted issues. In especially severe cases, the employer may be immediately assessed a fine.
Given the potentially harsh consequences of noncompliance, it important to make every effort to abide by federal workplace safety regulations. Compliance can be assured through the completion of OSHA training, use of safety data sheets, and the guidance of a safety plan builder.
Audits can uncover previously unknown areas of noncompliance and provide a clear path for fixing these issues before they are discovered by OSHA inspectors.
Contact MedWaste Services
OSHA compliance is not a matter to be taken lightly, but maintaining compliance doesn’t have to be difficult. MedWaste Services provides an online program for OSHA training and management. Get involved in our training program or complete an audit to ensure you’re in compliance with OSHA regulations 2018. Contact us today to learn more about our compliance services.