How to Avoid Getting in Trouble with OSHA
Watch your step
Keep floors in work areas clean, and as dry as possible. Guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk (using a railing and toe-board or a floor hole cover). Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated, open sided platform, floor or runway.
Beware! Dangerous machinery
Regardless of the height. if a worker can fall into or onto dangerous machines or equipment (such as a vat of acid or conveyor belt), provide guardrails and toe-boards to prevent workers from injury.
Provide fall protection
Here’s the rule: you must provide fall protection for anyone working at elevations of four feet or higher in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations. Also, workers must wear fall protection gear when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.
Put yourself in your worker’s shoes
We all know we should do it. But let’s face it: wearing fall protection and following safety procedures can add challenges to a job that is already tough. Support your workers and show that fall prevention is a priority in your company. Provide all required personal protective equipment free to employees. This includes safety harnesses and lines. Also, train workers about job hazards in a language that they understand.