Business Tools Downloadable checklists, model business plans, forms and other documents. Our small business online advice columnist.
Every employer wants to have a safe workplace.
The risk of injury to an employee or customer is frequently enough to convince an employer to take appropriate steps to maintain a safe place of business. Absent an accident, a small business owner isn't likely to be visited by federal health and safety inspectors very often, if at all. Unfortunately, if an accident does occur and you're found to be in violation of applicable safety rules, the consequences of the accident can be compounded. So, it's worthwhile to have a general understanding of the legal underpinning of the safety standards that apply to almost every employer. OSHA was enacted in 1970 to address the uneven patchwork of state laws regarding workplace safety, and to respond to the growing number of serious injuries and deaths occurring in the workplace.