A Basic OSHA Overview A Summary for the Midlands Chapter of the NACBA

What is OSHA? OSHA is an administrative branch of the U.S. Department of Labor. OSHA = Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The State of Iowa has a similar group called Iowa Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). OSHA develops & enforces safety rules for businesses.

What are my responsibilities under the OSHA regulations? Employers are required to provide a safe workplace; specifically, a workplace free from hazards that are likely to cause: death or serious physical harm to employees.

What are my responsibilities under the OSHA regulations? Be familiar with OSHA regulations. Comply with OSHA regulations. Identify, reduce & remedy workplace hazards. Keep injury and illness records. Provide ongoing safety training. Verify that the training was understood. Provide personal safety equipment to workers.

Why should we comply? It’s the law. Reducing potential harm to employees is a goal that we clearly share with OSHA. Providing a safe and healthy environment benefits our employees, members and guests. Compliance with OSHA will reduce injuries, illnesses, fines and insurance costs.

Aren’t churches exempt? Churches not affecting commerce are exempt. But most churches do affect commerce via: – Out-of-state US Mail, – Long-distance telephone calls or Fax's, – Purchases from out-of state, – Deliveries from out-of-state, – to other states, – World Wide Web-site, – Schools or preschools that use out-of-state supplies.

Must we keep records? You must keep records of occupational injuries or illnesses if: – you employ 11 or more employees at any time during a calendar year. – you have fewer than 11 employees but hire a contractor that bumps your count to 11 or more. You must report all fatalities to OSHA or the hospitalization of 3 or more employees, even if you have fewer than 11 employees.

What if I don’t need to keep injury and illness records? Even if you aren’t required to keep injury and illness records, you still need to follow all the other requirements of the OSHA Act.

What forms must I use? If you have 11 or more employees, use Form 300 “Log and Summary of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.” On Form 300 you must record: All work-related injuries or illnesses, other than minor first aid. Form 300 is easy to complete.

What forms must I use? Form 300A is the annual summary of all the activity recorded on Form 300. The Form 300A (summary of all injuries and illnesses from the previous year) must be posted from February 1 to April 30. Form 300 and 300A must be kept for 5 years.

What forms must I use? Even if you aren’t required to record work- related illnesses and injuries on OSHA forms, it is important (and probably required) that you notify the State and your worker’s comp insurer of all work-related illnesses or injuries. In Iowa, use the form: “First Report of Injury or Illness” available from

What poster is required? Every employer must post in a prominent location FORM 3165, the “Job Safety and Health Protection” workplace poster which informs employees of their rights and responsibilities under the OSHA Act. Posters can be downloaded – no need to buy.

What is the “Hazard Communication Standard”? It is a major OSHA requirement. It requires employers to: Inform employees of workplace conditions like: – Hazardous materials, chemicals and equipment Train employees on proper safeguards. Verify they understand the training. Put the program in writing. Update the program and training regularly.

What is the MSDS program? The MSDS program is part of the “Hazard Communication Standard.” MSDS means “Material Safety Data Sheets” The MSDS sheets describe: – workplace chemicals and their potential hazards – how workers can be protected from them – how to clean spills and decontaminate workers. MSDS sheets must be immediately available.

What about OSHA inspections? OSHA may conduct workplace inspections to enforce its standards. Inspections may be any time, unannounced. They have the right to inspect any part of your building, and 5 years of logbooks, records and all your written safety plans. If violations are found, fines and civil and/or criminal penalties may be imposed.

What about OSHA inspections? One of your employees may be selected to join the OSHA inspector during the inspection. Possible questions to that employee: – Have you had safety training classes? – What are the safety rules regarding this and that? – Where is your MSDS book? – What have you been trained to do during accidents or emergencies? – In what parts of your job don’t you feel safe?

What triggers OSHA inspections? About 60% of OSHA inspections are triggered by employees. It’s in your best interest to solve employee concerns before OSHA is called. Develop suggestion/complaint system. Many of the other 40% of inspections are triggered by police, fire and rescue personnel when they respond to emergencies.

How can we comply with the Act? Understand the OSHA requirements. Perform a self-inspection of the building annually. Get/develop a written safety/training program. Use the required OSHA forms. Aggressively eliminate violations. Demonstrate a commitment to safety. Appoint persons(s) to be responsible. Involve your congregation (Building & Grounds).

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 1. Fire Prevention and Fire Plans – Number and placement of extinguishers, fire extinguisher training, fire reporting and evacuation plan, alarms, storage of flammables, possible kitchen and garage hazards, etc. 2. Emergency Exit Routes – Number of exits, directional signage, which way doors swing, exit widths, guardrails, alarms, locks, route maps, etc.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 3. Ladder Safety – Operator training for different ladder situations, periodic checking all ladders for defects, etc. 4. Walking Surface Safety – Stairways, handrails, railings around elevated areas, scaffolds, walkway lighting, etc.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 5. First Aid – Number and locations of First Aid stations, First Aid supplies, employee accident and First Aid training, etc. 6. Lawn Mowers & Power Equipment – Employee safety training, employee safety equipment, power equipment safety checks, machine guards, gasoline storage, etc.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 7. Chemical Safety – What chemicals are on-site, proper chemical storage, safe chemical usage, chemical hazard training, etc. 8. Office Safety, Housekeeping, Ergonomics – Common office hazards, equipment and material storage, computer workstation design, etc.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 9. Lockout and Tagout of Hazardous Energy – Hazardous energy sources might be electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, etc. – Employees servicing equipment must disable sources of hazardous energy before servicing. 10. Boiler Room Safety – Boiler operator certification, pressure relief valves, safety log books, etc.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 11. Blood Borne Pathogens – Your plan to minimize employee exposure, employee pathogen training, signs and labels, employee safety equipment like gloves, eye glasses and masks, etc. 12. Occupational Noise and Respiratory Exposure – Employee training, appropriate and properly fitted ear-wear, face-masks, respirators, etc.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 13. Workplace Violence – Problem identification, control strategies, security measures, cash-handling policies, zero- tolerance violence policies, employee assistance programs. 14. Permit-required Confined Spaces – Identification of confined spaces (attics, service tunnels, crawlspaces) & employee training.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 15. Working Outdoors: Heat & Cold Extremes – Employee training on sunburn, heatstroke, Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, frost bite, etc.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 16. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Employers must provide PPE to workers at no charge. – Workers are only required to provide their own protection from the natural elements; – employers must provide all the rest. – Employers must train workers on how & when to use PPE, understand limitations of PPE, fit PPE properly and maintain all PPE.

What 16 areas of church operations may be covered by the Act? 16. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Some examples of the PPE employers may be required to provide include: – face shields, safety glasses, spectacles, goggles, hard hats, long hair covers, ear plugs, ear muffs, respirators, dust masks, rubber gloves, exam gloves, etc.

Where can churches get more help? Our local OSHA office: 210 Walnut Street, Room 815 Des Moines, Iowa OSHA on line: