Compliance OSHA Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 as an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor. Its mission is to protect the worker from unsafe or unhealthful conditions at the worksite. OSHA has three divisions: construction, general industry and maritime. The agency issues standards in nearly every area of employment, and most employers are subject to these standards. Some of these standards are recommendations; some regulations require compliance.
General Duty
No general guidelines for compliance with OSHA standards exist; they're composed of thousands of specific regulations. However, OSHA's "general duty" clause states that employers must provide "a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees." Beyond this, employers must look to OSHA for training specific to the industry or hazard. OSHA supplies this in many ways.
Cooperative Programs
One way an employer can learn apply with OSHA regulations is through its cooperative programs. OSHA works with private organizations through its Alliance Program. Participants share safety and health resources and develop outreach tools for employees. OSHA partners with employees, employers, and other organizations through the Strategic Partnership Program. Together, they develop metrics, goals and strategies for OSHA compliance, and design models for workplace improvement.
On-site Consultation Program
State governments administer free consultations for OSHA with small and medium-sized businesses. These confidential in-site inspections never result in penalties or citations for the employer. What's more, they provide incentives for high-risk worksites to work toward compliance. The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, which is a part of the consultation outreach, recognizes employers with superlative safety and health records. These employers are exempt from routine OSHA inspections.
Compliance Assistance Specialists
OSHA area offices provide compliance assistance specialists to organizations of all sorts. They act as speakers for all types of events sponsored by trade organizations, unions and community groups At these seminars and workshops, the staff promote OSHA compliance tools and training resources.
Courses
OSHA offers much compliance training at its Training Institute, located in Illinois. In addition, much of its training is offered through its Training Institute Education Centers, which are located throughout the country. The length of the centers' seminars and courses runs from a few hours up to a few days. In addition, OSHA's Outreach Training Program provides trainers who run 10- and 30-hour training classes across the country. Many of these will conduct courses on-site. OSHA provides employers with lists of these trainers.
Publications
A great deal of written material is available to guide employers toward OSHA compliance. These most comprehensive of these are handbooks, guidance documents, and bulletins that address specific hazards and recommend safety measures. In addition, OSHA supplies fact sheets, pocket guides and bulletins designed to clarify compliance issues and administrative issues at OSHA.
Grants for Training
Through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, OSHA awards grants to not-for-profit organizations for the purpose of providing training on workplace hazards, OSHA standards and compliance. Recipients are selected through a national competition. The agency itself designates the specifics topics to be addressed by funded programs.
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