Today in the United States, worker enjoy some of the safest working conditions of any generation. In decades past, workers were not so lucky. In the rush for every higher profits, companies would often cut corners, employ children, and create dangerous working conditions. The result was deaths, accidents, and injuries. Eventually, the government stepped in and decided that because these companies could not put employee safety above profit, they would create an agency that would set rules and police working conditions in the United States. Read on the learn the history of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA.
The Safety and Health Act
On December 29, 1970 President Richard Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act into law. This act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which was responsible for "assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance." as its mission stated. OSHA was officially formed on April 28 1971 when the OSH act took effect. The first directory was George Guenther. In 1972, OSHA developed the The OSHA Training Institute. The institute is responsible for training health and safety personnel for the government and private sector companies.
What it Does
As a whole, OSHA sets standards for companies, requires the use of safety equipment, mandates that employees have access to certain information, and conducts inspections of work sites. The agency currently covers over seven million work places with an emphasis on hazardous sites such as manufacturing and chemical plants.OSHA also is responsible for protecting whistle blowers when they come forward to report regulations violations or other illegal activities by a company.
Controversy
LIke any government agency, be it the FBI, CIA, EPA, or any other, OSHA does come under criticism from time to time. The main criticism revolves around the cost of the agency versus the results it produces. Related to this argument is the time and cost to businesses it takes to comply with the regulations and inspections. OSHA does mean increased costs and efforts for companies, but the issue is that in the absence of OSHA, companies did not act in ways that were safe and fair to workers. So while OSHA may not be the perfect solution to the issue of worker safety, it is better than no solution at all.
Practical Application
So how does this agency actually affect the every day job site. Take a construction site, for instance. First, OSHA would mandate that information about safety standards, regulations, and worker rights be posted at the job site where every worker could see them. They would also have access to information about possible hazards such as toxic chemicals and machines that could result in injury. Then, the agency would require certain safety gear be provided to workers. This gear would be things such as hard hats, reflective vests, hearing protection, warning systems, chemical suits, steel toed boots, and much more. These safety items would ensure that no matter if you are working on a diesel generator, a gasoline generator, a forklift, or a backhoe, you would be as protected as possible. Â For more information about MQ Generator and Power Generation Equipment Repair, there's great information online.
The Safety and Health Act
On December 29, 1970 President Richard Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act into law. This act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which was responsible for "assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance." as its mission stated. OSHA was officially formed on April 28 1971 when the OSH act took effect. The first directory was George Guenther. In 1972, OSHA developed the The OSHA Training Institute. The institute is responsible for training health and safety personnel for the government and private sector companies.
What it Does
As a whole, OSHA sets standards for companies, requires the use of safety equipment, mandates that employees have access to certain information, and conducts inspections of work sites. The agency currently covers over seven million work places with an emphasis on hazardous sites such as manufacturing and chemical plants.OSHA also is responsible for protecting whistle blowers when they come forward to report regulations violations or other illegal activities by a company.
Controversy
LIke any government agency, be it the FBI, CIA, EPA, or any other, OSHA does come under criticism from time to time. The main criticism revolves around the cost of the agency versus the results it produces. Related to this argument is the time and cost to businesses it takes to comply with the regulations and inspections. OSHA does mean increased costs and efforts for companies, but the issue is that in the absence of OSHA, companies did not act in ways that were safe and fair to workers. So while OSHA may not be the perfect solution to the issue of worker safety, it is better than no solution at all.
Practical Application
So how does this agency actually affect the every day job site. Take a construction site, for instance. First, OSHA would mandate that information about safety standards, regulations, and worker rights be posted at the job site where every worker could see them. They would also have access to information about possible hazards such as toxic chemicals and machines that could result in injury. Then, the agency would require certain safety gear be provided to workers. This gear would be things such as hard hats, reflective vests, hearing protection, warning systems, chemical suits, steel toed boots, and much more. These safety items would ensure that no matter if you are working on a diesel generator, a gasoline generator, a forklift, or a backhoe, you would be as protected as possible. Â For more information about MQ Generator and Power Generation Equipment Repair, there's great information online.