1. OSHA GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
International Environmental Technology and Training Center
“Working safely with hazardous materials”
Vincent J. Giblin, General President
1293 Airport Road, Beaver, WV
Phone: (304) Fax: (304)

2. Government Regulations: AN INTRODUCTION
Foundation for all safety and health requirements at work sites.
Protects workers, the public, and the environment.
Must be understood by all workers.
Government Regulations

3. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Government Agencies
Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Transportation
Department of Energy
Government Regulations

4. Code of Federal Regulations
Agency
Scope
Title
OSHA
Safety and Health Regulations 29
NIOSH
Research Relating to Worker Safety and Health 42
MSHA
Mining Safety and Health 30
EPA
Protection of Air, Water, and Soil 40
DOL
Labor Policies and Laws
DOT
Transportation Policies 49
DOE
Energy Research and Development 10
Government Regulations

5. Understanding Federal Code Citations
29 CFR (a)
Paragraph
Section
Part
Title
Code of Federal Regulations
Government Regulations

6. Where can employees find information?
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard.
Government Regulations

7. Where can employees find information?
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
General Industry
Construction Industry
Government Regulations

8. Where can employees find information?
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard
29 CFR General Industry
29 CFR Construction Industry
Government Regulations

9. Employer Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
General Duty Clause, or Section 5 (a)(1).
“ furnish a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.”
Government Regulations

10. Employer Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
The employer is ultimately responsible.
Government Regulations

11. Employer Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
Establish and maintain safe conditions, practices, and (SOP)s, standard operating procedures.
Government Regulations

12. Employer Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
Identify, communicate, and monitor hazardous conditions.
Government Regulations

13. Employer Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
Provide/maintain appropriate PPE.
Train employees on rules, regulations, and procedures.
Government Regulations

14. Employer Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
Keep and make available, health, safety and training records.
Abate cited violations.
Do not discriminate against employees who exercise OSHA rights.
Government Regulations

15. Employer Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
Cooperate with OSHA officers.
Post OSHA notices.
Post OSHA poster (2203).
Government Regulations

16. Employer Rights As Defined by OSH Act
OSHA recognizes employer’s rights regarding inspections.
Government Regulations

17. Employer Rights As Defined by OSH Act
Seek free advice and off site consultation.
Request/receive identification of OSHA officer, prior to inspection.
Government Regulations

18. Employer Rights As Defined by OSH Act
Be told reason for OSHA inspection.
Accompany the OSHA inspector.
Have opening and closing conference with OSHA officer.
Government Regulations

19. Employer Rights As Defined by OSH Act
Request informal settlement agreement process.
File ‘Notice of Contest’ against inspection results.
Apply to OSHA for temporary or permanent variance.
Assured of confidentially of trade secrets.
Government Regulations

20. Employee Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
Section 5(b) requires: that “employees diligently follow all safety and health standards, rules, procedures that apply to their own actions and conduct”.
Government Regulations

21. Employee Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act.
Employees must be informed and involved.
Government Regulations

22. Employee Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act
Read OSHA poster.
Follow employer safety and health regulations.
Use PPE where necessary.
Government Regulations

23. Employee Responsibilities As Defined by OSH Act
Report hazardous conditions, injuries and illnesses to employer - seek treatment.
Cooperate with OSHA inspection.
Exercise OSHA rights responsibly.
Government Regulations

24. Employee Rights As Defined by OSH Act
You should know your rights.
Government Regulations

25. Employee Rights As Defined by OSH Act
Review OSHA standards, rules, and requirements for job site.
Get information from employer regarding safety/health hazards on job site.
Government Regulations

26. Employee Rights As Defined by OSH Act
Receive proper safety and health training.
Access to employee medical and exposure records.
Request information from NIOSH.
Government Regulations

27. Employee Rights As Defined by OSH Act
Request OSHA inspection.
Name withheld from employer if complaint filed.
Accompany OSHA officer during inspection.
Government Regulations

28. Employee Rights As Defined by OSH Act
Respond to questions from OSHA.
Observe monitoring or measuring; review data.
Review Log of Injuries and Illnesses-OSHA 300.
Government Regulations

29. Employee Rights As Defined by OSH Act
Request closing discussion after inspection.
OSHA citations must be posted.
Object to abatement period set by OSHA.
Participate in hearings.
Government Regulations

30. Should violations be reported immediately?
First, discuss concerns with:
Co-workers
Supervisors
Site Safety Officer
Employer
Union Representative
Government Regulations

31. Do employees have the right to refuse unsafe work?
OSHA does not specifically give you the right to refuse but, an employee may refuse work when faced with an imminent danger of serious injury or death.
Government Regulations

32. Can employees be fired or demoted for reporting?No
Government Regulations

33. Can employees be fired or demoted for reporting?
Section 11(c) of the OSH Act states: the employer “shall not” punish or discriminate against employee for exercising such rights as complaining to the employer, the union, OSHA, or any other government agency about job safety and health hazards; or for participating in OSHA inspections, conferences, or other OSHA related activities.
Government Regulations

34. What programs make safety and health integral to jobs?
DOE’s Integrated Safety Management (ISM):
Incorporates safety into management and work practices at all levels.
OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP):
Goes beyond OSHA Standards Compliance.
Government Regulations

35. What are OSHA’s VPPs?
A cooperative relationship between management, labor, and OSHA for strong safety and health programs.
Management: operates program that meets criteria.
Employees: participate/work with management.
VPP-sites: comply with OSHA’s rules, and go beyond requirements.
Government Regulations

36. VPP benefits for employers, employees, and OSHA.
Improved employee motivation.
Reduced worker’s compensation costs.
Recognition in the community.
60% to 80% fewer lost workday injuries.
Contractors, employers, employees provide input to OSHA.
Government Regulations

37. Does employee involvement mean legal responsibility?
Employees do not assume employer’s responsibilities.
Employees are not expected to guarantee a safe and healthful environment.
Government Regulations

38. Why do agencies require specific HAZWOPER training?
Greatly reduces the possibility of harm from exposure to hazardous materials.
Hazardous waste sites can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Government Regulations

39. HAZWOPER 8-Hour Training: Update Worker on Recent Developments
Government Regulations

40. Government Regulations: UPDATE
Revised Injury/illness Record Keeping Rule.
Effective as of January 1, 2002.
OSHA Form (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illness).
Simplified.
Printable on smaller-sized paper.
Government Regulations

41. Government Regulations: UPDATE
Revisions to Voluntary Protection Program. Effective as of January 1, 2001.
Criteria rewritten; easier to understand.
Expansion of eligibility.
Increased expectations concerning management of the safety/health of employees.
New illness reporting requirement.
Government Regulations

42. This material was produced under grant number 46C5-HT16 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Government Regulations

43. END
This publication was made possible by grant numbers 5 U45 ES AND 5 U45 ES from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS, NIH.
Government Regulations