Introduction to OSHAOccupational Safety

and

Health Administration

What’s wrong in this hallway?

Injuries and Deaths� >6, 000 workers die each year

� 5.7 mil (out of 105 mil) workers are injured on the job each year (1999) – strains and sprains are very common

� 1.7 mil workers are disabled each year (1999)Permanent or temporary

Accident Triangle

Lost workdays (3,000,000)

Deaths (6,000)

Recordables (6,000,000)

First aid

Not reported

Near misses

500 x

1000 x

? x

? x

? x

Note: Based on Bureau of Labor and Statistics

(ApproximateNumbers)

Workplace Injuries

� All industry-6.3 per 100 workers

� Health services-7.7 per 100 workers

� Hospitals-8.4 per 100 workers

� Nursing and Personal Care workers

13.8 per 100 workers

Note: Based on Bureau of Labor and Statistics

Purpose of OSHA & MIOSHA

PROVIDE A SAFE WORKPLACE

� www.osha.gov

OSH ACT 1970� Created these divisions to oversee safety:

� OSHA (enforces compliance via inspections)Occupational Safety and Health Administration

� NIOSH (conducts research for safety products)National Institute for Occupational Safety and

Health

� OSHRC (appeals & citation management)The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

General Duty Clause 5(a)OSH act 1970

� 5(a) Employer Responsibility - “(1) furnish employees employment which is

free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees”

General Duty Clause 5(b)� 5(b) Employee Responsibility-

“(b) Employee shall comply with OSHA standards and all rules and regulations which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.”

Michigan Act 154� R408.1011 Section 11:

An employer shall:...Furnish a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are... likely to cause…death or serious harm...

Michigan Act 154� 408.1012 Section 12

An employee shall: Comply with (safety) rules and standards...

INSPECTONS (without advanced notice)

� Imminent danger

� Catastrophes and fatal accidents

� Employee complaints

� Programmed high hazard inspections (i.e. hospitals)

� Follow-up

Imminent Danger

� IDLH (“A REASONABLE PERSON”) IMMEDIATLY DANGEROUS TO LIFE & HEALTH (i.e. exposed electrical wire)

� Need correction ASAP

Catastrophes and Fatal Accidents� Must Report in 8 Hours

3 EMPLOYEES HOSPITALIZED FROM SAME ACCIDENT

or

1 FATALITY

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)� Each day regulations are

passed by Congress, they are published in Federal Register

� Each rule is placed in 1 of 50 Titles

�

� Title 29 is LABOR

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)� 29 CFR - rules for “Department of Labor”

� Title 29 CFR 1910 - rules for Labor in General Industry

� Healthcare is "General Industry“

� Healthcare must follow all federal & state rules & standards

OSHA 200/300 Log

� Helps identify:Types of accidentsDepartments that are having accidentsEmployees that are having accidents

� By knowing this information, accidents can be reduced in numbers

OSHA 200 Log

Legal form to record injuries & illnesses (& medical tx for work-related injury)

Must be posted in your work area for the month of February

Must be kept up-to-date

Common Hospital Violations

� 1. No annual BBP training for employees

� 2. Employees not wearing PPE

� 3. Failure to act appropriately for post-exposure

� 4. Failure to consider safer medical devices

� 5. Recapping needles

� 6. Employer not offering Hep B Vaccine

State Plans� The OSH Act of 1970 allowed states “to assume

responsibility for…OSHA standards…”

� The stipulation was they must “… be at least as effective...” as federal government’s standards.

� 26 states have state plans.

MIOSHAMichigan Occupational Safety and

Health Act

Act 154 of 1974

“state plan state” “state program”

Whistleblower Protection

� Section 11( c ) of the OSH Act of 1970

� “Workers have the right to complain to OSHA and seek an OSHA inspection...” (without discrimination)

What should you do?

� 1. If you see a hazard in the work area?

� 2. If you spill something?

� 3. After you finish working with a sharp object?