OSHA Safety Program Requirements

Offices, factories, hotels, hospitals, longshoring, mining, construction, and food service establishments. These are just a partial listing of the types of industries in the United States. Every single industry is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide a safe workplace for all employees. All workplaces need a safety program, and OSHA sets standards for these programs.

Written Safety Policy

• A written safety plan, or policy, is required for all workplaces. This policy should be accessible to all employees. The safety plan states the purpose of the company to protect workers, details who is responsible for implementing safety programs, and provides contact information for reporting unsafe work conditions. The main portion of the safety policy addresses the hazards a worker may encounter on the job, as well as how management, supervisors, and workers, can avoid being injured around those hazards. Safety checklists and any needed permits for specific types of work are included in the proper section of the safety policy.

Safety Training

• OSHA requires all workers to complete a 10 or 30-hour safety training course, given by an OSHA certified trainer, such as the company's safety director or someone brought in by a professional safety training company. Training must be completed before beginning work at a particular company. Some companies allow previously trained new-hires to provide proof of training from a former job. All workers have the right and the responsibility to be trained in all areas of safety that will affect his safety on the job.

  Other training as needed should be provided, such as when new equipment is presented on the job, or an unfamiliar work situation arises.

Record Keeping

• Record keeping for the workplace includes documentation of employee training, records of illness and injuries on the job, and proof of licensing for workers who operate certain equipment or vehicles. OSHA and state authorities require periodic records concerning injuries and illnesses. Hazardous materials in the workplace, even substances such as dishwashing soap or floor cleaning materials, must have a Material Safety Data Sheet, MSDS, on file.

Personal Protective Equipment

• OSHA safety program requirements include a variety of personal protective equipment, depending on the job being performed and the workplace conditions. Personal protective equipment consists of items to protect a worker's face, eyes, ears, skin, and the whole body in certain situations. Safety goggles, ear plugs, glare guards for computers, or a fall protection harness are among the items required to protect workers from a variety of hazards.

Fire Prevention

• Fire prevention should be part of every workplace's safety program.

  OSHA mandates that every workplace have a fire prevention plan. The written portion of the plan is to be included in the company's written safety program. Fire prevention includes safety exits and posted exit routes. Employees must also be informed of which types of fire extinguishing equipment should be used for certain types of fires.

  Beyond basic fire prevention training, some jobs require employers to provide more extensive fire safety courses.