Who’s Responsible – 01/24/2022

Safety E-QuickTips

U.S. Compliance Systems, Inc.

Monday Jan 24, 2022

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Who’s Responsible

So, who’s responsible for employee safety?

If you talk to OSHA, they will say that the employer is responsible for workplace safety. They have a section in the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act that says just that.

The OSHA General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, requires that each employer furnish to each of its employees a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

If you talk to the employer, they may say that the employee is responsible for their safety.

Why? Because workplace safety is common sense.The employer can’t be with each employee to make sure they are always working in a safe manner, so it is up to the employee.

If you talk to the employee, they may say it is the employer’s responsibility.

Why? Because the employer must make sure employees have what they need to perform their job in a safe manner.

So, who is right?

Well, none of them are wrong.

Because for a safe workplace to exist, everyone must take responsibility and work together to ensure it becomes a reality.

Safety cannot be someone else’s job – it’s everyone’s job.

Employee Management QuickTip

Every day when no one is looking you have the choice to work in a safe manner or not. Your family and friends rely on you to choose to work safe. Don’t let them down.

Employer Management QuickTip

Because we are all human, we’ll never be able to prevent all accidents. Yet that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Do your part to educate employees regarding hazards in the workplace and the value of working safe. 

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Thanks for Reading and Please – Stay Healthy and Work Safe.