The History of OSHA
OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a governmental body dedicated to workplace safety standards in the United States.
Because of OSHA, tens of thousands of lives have been saved from tragedy in the workplace since the 1970s. The regulations set by OSHA ensure that workers are protected and that employers are held responsible to provide safety education and equipment.
Prioritizing safety is important for all industries, but it is especially necessary in construction and manufacturing due to the dangers present in the workplace. NRTC Automation upholds safety as the number one priority in all our services.
Learn more about OSHA’s history and its regulations for construction and manufacturing below!
History of OSHA
Before OSHA
Before the 1970s, there was very little legislation on safety in the workplace.
In fact, prior to the workers’ compensation movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, workplace safety was basically nonexistent. Once workers’ rights became a conversation in Congress, laws to protect workers started to go into effect.
However, the laws for workplace safety were still negligible. In 1970, there were over 14,000 fatalities due to work-related accidents and injuries. After years of what could have been preventable deaths and injuries, President Lyndon Johnson proposed legislation for workplace safety.
OSHA’s Beginnings
President Richard Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act in December of 1970, establishing a new era of workplace safety. The law officially went into effect in April of 1971.
OSHA struggled at first to create clear and comprehensive laws for workplace safety until the Assistant Secretary of Labor, Dr. Eula Bingham, arrived. She improved OSHA by discarding trivial laws and clarifying necessary standards to manage serious health and safety situations.
Dr. Bingham met adversaries in big business and Congress since regulations could hurt economic activity, but she was backed by President Jimmy Carter to pursue workplace safety for American citizens.
Since Dr. Bingham’s leadership, OSHA has been improving its laws and regulations to protect the rights and safety of people in the workplace.
Safety in Construction and Manufacturing
From childcare to food prep, OSHA’s laws cover safety for all industries.
The construction and manufacturing industries are especially prone to accidents and fatalities due to heavy machinery and the dangerous heights that workers scale in order to perform their jobs.
These are the basic safety regulations that should be maintained in the workplace in order to be compliant with OSHA’s standards:
Employee Education and Compliance Assistance: Workers should know their rights, as well as the safety procedures they must follow to protect themselves and others from harm. The employer should provide this information before the worker begins employment and offer assistance for compliance, if necessary.
Fair and Effective Enforcement: Employers should enforce OSHA’s regulations to ensure that workers continue to prevent accidents in the workplace. Enforcement may include regular refreshers on OSHA’s safety standards or giving warnings to workers who were not complying with OSHA’s regulations.
Effective Hazard Management: Hazards such as falls, repetitive motion injuries, collapses, and more should be approached from every angle to protect workers from injuries or fatalities. This could include using safety net systems, immediately correcting any slippery areas on stairs, or marking toxic chemicals with signage to alert workers about danger.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Employers should provide any and all PPE to workers, and workers are expected to wear PPE in the workplace. PPE includes hard hats, high-visibility gear like bright yellow vests, steel-toe boots, gloves, and other safety equipment.
NRTC Automation follows these guidelines closely with safety signs and perimeters, branded safety gear, and a project manager to enforce OSHA guidelines with each tear out. Our workers can focus on your equipment and facility with peace of mind knowing their safety is prioritized.
OSHA Today
Compared to the tens of thousands of fatalities before OSHA (and considering the fact that workplace accidents were not accurately recorded), the number of fatalities and injuries have dropped markedly due to OSHA’s standards.
In 2009, there were less than 5,000 fatalities recorded in the workplace. The mandates set by OSHA for safety may have prevented over 10,000 deaths from avoidable accidents and even more injuries.
Workers can be more productive and efficient because they feel safe and secure. By complying with OSHA regulations, employers and employees can enjoy a safer workplace.
SAFETY IS NRTC AUTOMATION’S PRIORITY.
At NRTC Automation, we take OSHA’s standards seriously. We follow OSHA safety guidelines in every tear out and with each service. Our team members wear bright and branded safety gear, set up safety perimeters and signage, set up a plan for safe and efficient tear outs, and more.
Whether we are building your parts in our warehouses or tearing out your facility, NRTC Automation follows all safety precautions to provide professional and reliable services.
For more information on NRTC Automation’s commitment to safety, or to learn more about how we can serve your industrial and automation needs, contact us today.