Source: https://www.oshatrain.org/courses/mods/144m1.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:16:38
Document Index: 304673881

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1910', 'art 1915', 'art 1917', 'art 1918', 'art 1926', 'art 1928']

﻿ OSHAcademy Course 144 Introduction to OSHA - Module 1
The mission of OSHA is to save lives, prevent injuries and protect the health of America’s workers. The OSH Act states that workers have the right to a safe workplace and that it is the employer’s responsibility to provide safe and healthy workplaces.
Today, although occupational safety has come a long way, too many employees are still being injured and killed on the job. Let's take a look at some recent statistics:
5,190 workers were killed on the job in all sectors in 2016
An average of nearly 13 workers die every day
2,857,400 recordable workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2016
1. How many workplace fatalities in all sectors were recorded in 2016?
a. Over 4,500
b. Just under 5,200
c. At least 7,000
d. Between 6,000 and 6,500
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is an annual codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 "titles," of which is Title 29 assigned to the Department of Labor; therefore, the OSHA standards,called "Parts," are:
Part 1910 is assigned to General Industry. Includes topics such as hazard communication, walking working surfaces, PPE, powered platforms, hazardous materials, confined space safety, and noise exposure.
Part 1915 is assigned to Maritime. Includes topics such as welding, scaffolds, ladders, general working conditions, tools, rigging and material handling.
Part 1917 is assigned to Maritime Terminals. Includes topics such as terminal operations, cargo handling gear, first aid and lifesaving facilities, terminal facilities.
Part 1918 is assigned to Longshoring. Includes topics such as gangways, working surfaces, opening and closing hatches, cargo handling, vessel cargo handling gear, and gear certification.
Part 1926 is assigned to Construction. Includes topics such as exit routes, environmental controls, walking-working surfaces, ladders, fall protection, hazardous materials, PPE, and permit-required confined spaces.
Part 1928 is assigned to Agriculture. Includes topics such as safety for agricultural equipment, employee operating instruction, guarding farm field equipment, cotton gins, environmental controls, occupational health
The Rule-making Process. Before OSHA can issue a standard, it must go through an extensive and lengthy process that includes substantial public engagement, notice and comment periods. This is known as the OSHA Rulemaking Process.
2. Which Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) "Title" is assigned to the Department of Labor (DOL)?
a. Title 04
b. Title 10
c. Title 29
d. Title 50
The OSH Act encourages states to develop and operate their own job safety and health programs and precludes state enforcement of OSHA standards unless the state has an approved program. State Plans are OSHA-approved job safety and health programs operated by individual states rather than federal OSHA.
State-run safety and health programs must be at least as effective (ALAE) as the federal OSHA program. OSHA approves and monitors all state plans and provides as much as fifty percent of the funding for each program.
Currently there are 22 states in which state plans are approved for private-sector, and state and local government employees. An additional six states are approved for state and local government employees only.
3. OSHA does NOT have jurisdiction in _____.
Every year, OSHA publishes its "Top 10" most frequently cited violations, and through the years, the same standards appear to be at or near the top of that list. OSHA frequently sees violations related to these regulations when conducting employer inspections and accident investigations. For more on the list, visit OSHA's website.
Note that the Fall Protection and Hazard Communication standards are usually at or near the top of the list, so it makes sense to give these two programs top priority. However, because OSHA sees and cites the "Top-10" violations frequently, it's smart safety management to make sure all of the "Top-10" programs are effective. After all, the following statement is true:
"That which OSHA sees the most, is cited the most."
4. Which of the following standards is at the top of OSHA's most frequently cited violations list?
a. Lockout/Tagout
c. Fall Protection
OSHA enforces standards through inspections. There are about 2,400 state and federal OSHA inspectors for over 7 million workplaces. At this rate, it would take about 100 years for OSHA to inspect every workplace once. Therefore, OSHA targets the most dangerous workplaces; industries with fatalities and serious injuries and construction.
The OSH Act authorizes OSHA compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) to conduct non-notice workplace inspections at reasonable times. The OSHA inspection 3-phase process consists of:
Opening conference. The compliance officer will explain why OSHA selected the workplace for inspection and describe the scope of the inspection, walkaround procedures, employee representation and employee interviews.
"Walkaround" inspection. The compliance officer and the representatives will walk through the portions of the workplace covered by the inspection.
Closing conference with the employer. The compliance officer discusses possible courses of action an employer may take following an inspection, which could include an informal conference with OSHA or contesting citations and proposed penalties.
Results can take up to 6 months, after which OSHA may issue citations. These may include fines and will include dates by which hazard must be abated. See detailed requirements in the Field Operations Manual (click on image).
Different Types of OSHA Inspections
These inspections are scheduled in response to alleged hazardous working conditions identified at a specific worksite. This type of inspection responds to the following four priorities:
Programmed Inspections are the most common type of inspection and are scheduled based upon objective or neutral selection criteria are programmed inspections. Inspections within the construction industry are scheduled from a list of construction worksites, not employers.
5. Which of the following OSHA inspections has the HIGHEST priority?
a. Programmed Inspections
b. Complaints/Referrals
c. Fatality/Catastrophy
d. Imminent Danger
OSHA inspectors, called Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs), are experienced, well-trained industrial hygienists and safety professionals whose goal is to assure compliance with OSHA requirements. OSHA conducts inspections without advance notice. Employers have the right to require compliance officers to obtain an inspection warrant before entering the worksite.
OR-OSHA and Federal OSHA inspection process are identical.
Preparation: Before conducting an inspection, OSHA compliance officers research the inspection history of a worksite using various data sources, review the operations and processes in use and the standards most likely to apply.
Opening Conference: During the opening conference, the compliance officer will explain why OSHA selected the workplace for inspection and describe the scope of the inspection, walkaround procedures, employee representation and employee interviews. The employer then selects a representative to accompany the compliance officer during the inspection.
Walkaround: Following the opening conference, the compliance officer and the representatives will walk through the portions of the workplace covered by the inspection, inspecting for hazards that could lead to employee injury or illness.
During the walkaround, compliance officers may point out some apparent violations that can be corrected immediately. While the law requires that these hazards must still be cited, prompt correction is a sign of good faith on the part of the employer.
Closing Conference: After the walkaround, the compliance officer holds a closing conference with the employer and the employee representatives to discuss the findings. The compliance officer discusses possible courses of action an employer may take following an inspection, which could include an informal conference with OSHA or contesting citations and proposed penalties.
Results: When an inspector finds violations of OSHA standards or serious hazards, OSHA may issue citations and fines. Citations describe OSHA requirements allegedly violated, list any proposed penalties and give a deadline for correcting the alleged hazards.
Appeals: When OSHA issues a citation, it also offers the employer an opportunity for an informal conference with the OSHA Area Director to discuss citations, penalties, abatement dates or any other information pertinent to the inspection. The agency and the employer may work out a settlement agreement to resolve the matter and to eliminate the hazard.
Employers have 15 working days after receipt of citations and proposed penalties to formally contest the alleged violations and/or penalties by sending a written notice to the Area Director.
6. Which of the following is a sign of "good faith" on the part of the employer during an OSHA inspection?
a. Promising to correct the hazard within 30 days
b. Immediate correction of the hazard
c. Insistence on a warrant
d. Nothing can be done to show "good faith"
OSHA Fact Sheet on Inspections.
The following general information on citations and penalties describes the types of violations and explains the actions the employer may take if they receive a citation as the result of an inspection. In settling a penalty, OSHA has a policy of reducing penalties for small employers and those acting in good faith. For more information on employer responsibilities, see OSHA Publication 3000, Employer Rights and Responsibilities.
Willful violation: A willful violation is cited when the employer intentionally and knowingly commits the violation. It is also cited when the employer commits a violation with plain indifference to the law.
Repeated violation: This violation is cited by OSHA when it is the same as a similar or previous violation.
Other-than-serious violation: An other-than-serious violation is cited when the violation has a direct relationship to safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
Failure to Abate : A failure to abate violation exists when a previously cited hazardous condition, practice or non-complying equipment has not been brought into compliance since the prior inspection (i.e., the violation remains continuously uncorrected) and is discovered at a later inspection.
7. OSHA cites a _____ violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.
d. other-than-serious
OSHA inspectors cite violation.
The penalties that OSHA assesses are based on the type of violation. In settling a penalty, OSHA has a policy of reducing penalties for small employers and those acting in good faith. For serious violations, OSHA may also reduce the proposed penalty based on the gravity of the alleged violation. No good faith adjustment will be made for alleged willful violations. Below are the penalty amounts adjusted for inflation as of January 13, 2017:
Serious and other-than-serious violations:" OSHA may propose penalties of up to $12,675 for each serious, other than serious, and repeated violation.
Failure to abate. When the employer fails to abate a violation, a maximum of $12,675 may be proposed for per day the violation remains unabated beyond the abatement date. Generally there is a 30-day maximum limit.
Willful or repeated violations: OSHA may propose penalties of up to $126,749 for each willful or repeated violation.
OSHA cites employers, not employees: It's important to know that the OSHA Act does not provide for the issuance of citations or the proposal of penalties against employees. Employers are responsible for employee compliance with the standards.
Penalty Adjustments: OSHA may apply penalty adjustments that vary depending upon the employer's size (maximum number of employees), good faith, and the history of previous violations. Adjustments based on the number of employees may be applied as follows:
70 percent for employers with 1-10 employees
60 percent for employers with 11-25 workers
30 percent for employers with 26-100 workers
10 percent for employers with 101-250 workers
8. Which one of the following violations will NOT result in a possible "good faith" adjustment in penalty?
a. De Minimis violation.
b. Serious violation
c. Other-than-serious violation
Over the years, OSHA has developed many helpful resources for employers. OSHA's website has a lot of safety and health information and links to resources that can help you.
Locate Fact Sheets and QuickCards by going to OSHA's Publications page;
QuickCards are small, laminated cards that provide brief, plain language safety and health information for workers. For example, the image to the right shows part of a QuickCard for Aerial Lift Fall Protection.
Open the following Safety and Health Resources handout to get valuable links to many more resources from NIOSH, universities, professional organizations, and unions.
9. Who would you contact to get help with safety training?
a. Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS)
b. Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO)
c. Safety and Health Compliance Officer (SHCO)
d. Consultation and Education Technician (CET)
OSHA's Consultation Directory.
10. Which of the following is TRUE regarding OSHA on-site consultations?
a. They are the result of an OSHA letter
b. They are confidential
c. They will result in an OSHA Inspection
d. They are mandatory
Partnering with OSHA
OSHA Alliance Program: Through the OSHA Alliance Program, OSHA works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, businesses, faith- and community-based organizations, and educational institutions. OSHA and the groups work together to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, share information with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.
Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. The On-site Consultation Program's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes small business employers who operate an exemplary injury and illness prevention program.
Acceptance of your worksite into SHARP from OSHA is an achievement of status that singles you out among your business peers as a model for worksite safety and health. Upon receiving SHARP recognition, OSHA exempts the worksite from OSHA programmed inspections during the period that the SHARP certification is valid.
OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program. The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) recognize employers and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries.
To participate, employers must apply to OSHA and undergo a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals. Union support is required for applicants represented by a bargaining unit.
11. Which of the following OSHA programs recognizes small employers for exemplary safety programs?
a. OSHA Consultation and Training Service (OCTS)
b. OSHA Alliance Program (OAP)
c. Safety and Health Recognition Program (SHARP)
d. Voluntary Prevention Program (VPP)
Ways to Report Safety Hazards
The first action to report a safety hazard should be to contact the employer's safety team leader, supervisor, manager, safety committee, etc. While anyone who knows about a workplace safety or health hazard may report unsafe conditions to OSHA, it’s a good practice to try to correct the hazard and prevent further exposure before involving OSHA.
Contact. Contact the team leader, supervisor, manager, safety committee, etc.
Phone. Call the Regional or Local OSHA office or 1-800-321-OSHA.
Fax or Mail. Obtain the complaint form online or from the local or regional OSHA office.
In Person. Visit the local OSHA office.
Online. File complaints using OSHA's Online Form.
How OSHA Responds to Complaints
12. Which of the following criteria must be met before on-site OSHA inspection will occur as a result of a complaint?
a. A report of an imminent danger
b. Complaint of stressful work schedules
c. Unspecified employer response to employee complaints
d. Past history of an OSHA inspection