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Recent Developments

The OSH Act requires employers to comply with safety and health standards and regulations promulgated by OSHA or by a state with an OSHA-approved State Plan. OSHA standards frequently specify the means and methods that employers must use to protect employees from workplace hazards. There are specific OSHA standards for construction, maritime operations, agricultural operations, and general industry. These standards limit worker exposure to hazardous chemicals, require the use of certain safe practices and equipment, and require employers to monitor hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses. Examples of OSHA standards include requirements to:

  • Provide fall protection;
  • Prevent trench cave-ins;
  • Prevent spread of infectious diseases;
  • Assure that workers safely enter confined spaces;
  • Prevent exposure to harmful substances, such as asbestos;
  • Place guards on machines;
  • Provide respirators or other safety equipment; and
  • Provide training and information necessary to prevent or control employee exposure to hazards.

Employers also must comply with the general duty clause of the OSH Act (Section 5(a)(1)), which requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA compliance officers generally cite this clause when no specific OSHA standard applies to the hazard.











































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