Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Today, there are many laws and regulations that involve safety in the workplace. Before the 1970s, however, many workplaces had no guidelines to protect their workers from the dangers of their environment. Congress began to take charge of the growing number of injuries and fatalities due to job sites and created the Occupational Safety and Health Act which then lead to the organization of Occupation Safety and Health Administration. The administrations main goal is to ensure that all men and women are able to work at a safe working environment.
When an unsafe condition arises in the workforce, OSHA is committed to identifying the problems and creating different scenarios for problems resolution. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration take control by creating new regulations for the facility or company and implementing new strategies so that toxins or conditions that are harming the workers are lessened. To make sure each company is complying with regulations given to them for workman safety, the OSHA performs unannounced routine inspections to each facility. These inspections ensure that the company is following the strategies necessary to keep their work environment and jobsites up to code, even when inspections are not scheduled. If the OSHA finds that the company is not complying regularly on these different codes, fines are administered and the information is made open to the public.
Specifically, companies who use or have used asbestos related materials are at high priority for the OSHA. Asbestos is so toxic to human health that strict regulation and safety measures are taken to make sure that those who happen to be using the material are protected from their harmful reactions. Those who abate asbestos from buildings and homes are required by their company and the OSHA to wear special gear and breathing machines to ensure that no particles are inhaled. Also, each state has regulations for removal and deposit, so the OSHA works in conjunction with not only federal laws about asbestos in the workforce but state law as well.
Last modified: September 22 2008.
