Who We Are – OSHA AT 40

2. Who We Are – OSHA AT 40 40 years ago Congress responded to public demand for safer workplaces by passing the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The legislation created OSHA and charged the new agency with setting and enforcing standards to protect working men and women in America. Today workplaces in America are far safer than 40 years ago.

3. Who We Are – OSHA At 40 Since the passage of the OSH Act of 1970, workplace deaths have fallen nearly 65 percent and occupational injury and illness rates have dropped 67 percent. At the same time, U.S. employment has almost doubled. Before OSHA, approximately 38 workers a day were killed on the job across the United States; today, the daily average is 12.

4. Who OSHA Covers • Private Sector Workers Most employees in the nation come under OSHA's jurisdiction. OSHA covers private sector employers and employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other U.S. jurisdictions either directly through Federal OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state program. State-run health and safety programs must be at least as effective as the Federal OSHA program.

5. Who OSHA Covers • State and Local Government Workers Employees who work for state and local governments are not covered by Federal OSHA, but have OSH Act protections if they work in a state that has an OSHA-approved state program. Four additional states and one U.S. territory have OSHA approved plans that cover public sector employees only. This includes: Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin Islands. Private sector workers in these four states and the Virgin Islands are covered by Federal OSHA.

7. Pennsylvania OSHA Area Directors Mark Stelmack Theresa Naim Jean Kulp Albert D'Imperio Kevin Kilp Robert Szymanski Rev: 14 Aug 2008

8. Who OSHA Covers • Federal Government Workers Federal agencies must have a safety and health program that meet the same standards as private employers. Although OSHA does not fine federal agencies, it does monitor federal agencies and responds to workers' complaints. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is covered by OSHA.

9. Who’s NOT Covered • Self-employed; • Immediate family members of farm employers that do not employ outside employees; and • Workplace Hazards regulated by another Federal agency (for example, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Coast Guard).

10. OSHA Standards OSHA standards are laws that describe the methods that employers must use to protect their employees from hazards. There are OSHA standards for Construction work, Agriculture, Maritime operations, and General Industry, which are the standards that apply to most worksites. These standards limit the amount of hazardous chemicals workers can be exposed to, require the use of certain safe practices and equipment, and require employers to monitor hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses.

11. General Duty Clause Employers must also comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, which requires employers to keep their workplace free of serious recognized hazards. This clause is generally cited when no OSHA standard applies to the hazard.

12. How Inspections Happen • Complaints (Formal and Non-Formal) • Referrals (Media, Other Agencies, Self) • Fatality/Catastrophe • Follow-up • Monitoring • Programmed (LEP’s, NEP’s, SST’s etc.)

13. Harrisburg Area Office: • Full service area office • Publications • Audiovisual aids • Technical assistance / Duty Officer • Compliance Assistance

14. Pennsylvania OSHA Area Offices Allentown Area Office (610) 776-0592 Erie Area Office (814) 461-1492 Harrisburg Area Office (717) 782-3902 Philadelphia Area Office (215) 597-4955 Pittsburgh Area Office (412) 395-4903 Wilkes-Barre Area Office (570) 826-6538 Main OSHA Number: 1-800-321-OSHA, 1-800-321-6742 Rev: 22 Sept 2006