OSHA was created in 1970 to protect employees from workplace hazards. Their regulations and policies cover an array of areas like proper training; safety equipment and practices; and hazard communication. With these regulations OSHA monitors workplaces to ensure companies are following the rules set forth and help those who need OSHA to step in.

Often times businesses will treat the rules and regulations of OSHA as more of a poster in the breakroom without actually setting the practices in place or ensuring that all of their employees are trained or following them. Safety or Risk Managers are a great resource for ensuring that OSHA standards are in place and being followed, but that only works if they are actually able to complete their role and have the support and knowledge to transfer that knowledge and train their fellow employees appropriately.

Businesses are actually required to follow OSHA’s rules and regulations, and there are steep fines and penalties if those rules are not followed. OSHA rules include many areas like hazardous materials, radiation, electrical, mechanical, equipment, physical hazards, noise, and temperature extremes. To avoid fines and penalties businesses must keep up with OSHA’s regulations. Valuable resources for that is ensuring that their website and newsletters are being read, attending their training sessions, and asking for help when needed, and that is where we come in. We are here to help get businesses set up with OSHA’s rules and regulations in mind by having us review procedures, documentations, manuals, and real time practices out in the field or in the back office.

OSHA is not supposed to be seen as a dreadful thing, it is there to help provide a safe working environment for employees and employers. It is supposed to set safety standards for companies and save companies and employees money in the long run.