conclusion of assignment osha

Occupational Health and Safety and Workplace Accidents Essay

Hazards, risks, and injuries, unsafe conditions and unsafe acts, the steps of accident investigation, the internal responsibility system and duties, the types of accidents at the workplace, works cited.

One of the most important responsibilities of an employer is to provide his or her employees with a safe and healthy workplace. Occupational health and safety involve a workplace that is free of any hazards, risks, or injuries. A Hazard refers to an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon within the workplace that is a source of danger and can cause an event to result in one way or another (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 121). Hazards classify as biological, chemical, or physical. Risks refer to the possibility of harm or infection occurring given that exposure to an infectious agent or a source of danger has occurred. Risks within the workplace involve possibilities of one incurring a misfortune.

Injuries refer to any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accidents within the workplace (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 123). The three elements have a close relationship because they influence each other. Hazards expose people to risks within the workplace. The more someone has greater exposure to risk, the higher the chances of getting injuries. A hazard can cause harm while a risk is the chance of harm occurring. Injury is the extent of harm.

Unsafe conditions and unsafe acts are very important concepts in understanding occupational health and safety. Injuries and accidents are very common within the workplace, and these two elements are some of the causes. An unsafe act refers to human action, activity, or execution of a task in a manner, which poses a threat to the health, and/or safety of an individual within a workplace (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 364).

Unsafe acts involve human factors, thus they are not easy to identify and respond to within the workplace. Any person within the workplace can make an unsafe act. Examples of unsafe acts within the workplace include insubordination, operating machines without the necessary expertise, removing workplace safety instructions and devices, failure to wear protective clothing, failure to provide warning, and being in dangerous positions among others (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 366).

On the other hand, an unsafe condition refers to a situation within a workplace that has the potential to cause injury to people or property. Unsafe conditions expose one to various risks, thus hard to avoid them. Most workplaces are typically unsafe places for people to be, because of their numerous hazards that make occupants vulnerable to harm. Examples of unsafe conditions within the workplace include poor housekeeping, congestion, lack of protective clothing, inadequate or lack of warning signs, poor ventilation, and defective tools among others (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 369).

One of the nightmares that most people dread within the workplace is an accident. Workplace accidents are common, despite the employment laws providing strict guidelines to employers in order to ensure that all workers are safe. Therefore, it is important for employers to have a reliable and effective plan for dealing with such cases whenever they arise in the workplace. Occupational health and safety experts, advise all employers to have an accident plan that provides the essential steps of investigating an accident (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 144). There are four crucial steps taken when conducting an investigation of an internal accident.

The first step is an examination of the accident scene to determine what happened. This step should give a report on the tools involved in the accident, the condition of their user manuals, their maintenance condition, and availability of warning signs. The information gathered applies in determining the cause of the accident (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 145). The services of a professional investigator can be sourced if the cause of the accident is not easily identifiable.

The second step is establishing the visible facts of the accident scene. This happens by taking photographs and measurements of the whole scene. Forensic experts use the photographs and measurements to develop drawings that show the relation between the different elements collected from the accident scene. This step is all about the visual evidence, and its impact on understanding the cause of the accident (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 147).

The third step involves speaking to the witnesses of the accident. In conducting an internal accident investigation, it is necessary to speak to people who witness the accident, as well as people who might have any form of lead information about the same. The best people to interview for any lead information are people with similar job descriptions as those involved in the accident, supervisors, and employees trained to give first aid (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 150).

It is also important to talk to colleagues that the affected people associate closely with within the workplace. One important rule that investigators need to follow, is to ensure that all people who give written responses sign against them for the sake of reference and avoiding biased reactions. The fourth step involves reviewing all the collected data, as well as the work records of the employees involved in the accident.

This should give a clearer picture of the cause of the accident, and steps to prevent a similar mistake from happening at another given time. This step seeks to answer a number of questions for investigators regarding the accident (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 154). These questions focus on the intention of those injured, their qualifications for performing the task, work experience of those involved, choice of tools used, the availability of supervision, and any potential hazards on the scene of the accident.

One of the workplace characteristics is the availability of different types of jobs, whose duties and responsibilities vary. Everyone within the workplace has an ethical responsibility to ensure that duties are performed within the required standards. People also need to be accountable for their actions and take full responsibility whenever required to do so (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 428). Importantly, all these duties and responsibilities ought to apply in a safe and healthy workplace that is free of any kind of hazards. The combination of all these workplace elements creates an internal responsibility system.

The internal responsibility system integrates into an organization’s corporate culture, and it helps to allow all people within a workplace to contribute towards the attainment of occupational health and safety. This workplace strategy applies the format of a chart, where each employee is assigned a health and safety goal to promote and achieve within the workplace (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 430). Each employee holds full responsibility for his or her assigned element and is accountable to the rest of the employees.

The internal responsibility system applies a bottom to top responsibility approach. This means that everyone is answerable to the person above them. The basic structure of this system has the director at the top of the hierarchy, followed by the president, vice president, manager, supervisor, and worker respectively. Although these ranks have different levels of responsibility, people can interact freely with those above or below them for the sake of solving health and safety challenges within the workplace (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 436).

The duty of the internal responsibility system is to solve the dilemma of who ought to ensure the health and safety of employees within the workplace. Organizations that apply this strategy in their workplaces often experience safe and more secure environments characterized by low-risk levels. Some organizations are likely to record increased productivity and high employee morale to work. The reason for this is that the internal responsibility system helps to develop employee elements such as their ingenuity, acquaintance levels, management qualities, and better work experience (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 439).

The first accident type is working at risky speeds that are either too fast or too slow. The speed at which one does his or her work can compromise their safety because they can easily forget to observe safety rules. A good example is loading a truck with goods within a short time (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 66). This accident is avoidable by considering the age and physical condition of all employees. The second type is insubordination accidents.

It is important for workers to stick to jobs they are qualified to do. A good example is an accountant doing the work of a systems manager. The third type is poor storage accidents. When equipment and tools are stored poorly within the workplace, they are likely to cause accidents (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 69). Employers need to train their workers in good housekeeping skills in order to avoid accidents (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 72).

The fourth type is complacency accidents. Certain employees feel comfortable with their achievements and think they can try out new things. Employees need to avoid taking chances through shortcuts but instead stick to the safety regulation for their work. The fifth type is taking on risky body positions that expose employees to danger. For example, maintaining an erect upright position on top of chairs and tables is very dangerous (Bohle, Lamm & Quinlan 77). Employees need to learn better methods of executing their duties.

Bohle, Philip, Lamm Felicity & Quinlan Michael. Managing Occupational Health and Safety: A Multidisciplinary Approach . New York: Macmillan Education, 2010. Print.

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What to Expect During an OSHA Inspection — and How to Prepare 

Last Updated Sep 1, 2024

Clark Jensen

Strategic Product Consultant, Quality & Safety

10 articles

Clark Jensen joined Procore as a Senior Strategic Product Consultant, Quality & Safety where he spearheads product knowledge education and executes product demonstrations. He brings several years of experience in roles both on and offsite as a former senior project safety manager for a general contractor in Salt Lake City, and a senior risk control consultant for a large U.S.-based insurance firm.

14 articles

Bob Hanes is a professional writer and entrepreneur. He previously worked as a military sales and applications engineer for an aerospace firm, and cofounded a biotech company that creates drug screening solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. Bob has an MBA from the University of Buffalo in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, and a BE in Mechanical Engineering. He is an avid Buffalo Bills fan.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction site inspections ensure the safety and health of workers in one of the most hazardous fields in the U.S. Understanding what to expect during an OSHA inspection — and how to effectively prepare for one — can be vital for construction companies. 

Let's look into what to expect during these inspections, including the stages involved and the potential outcomes. We’ll also explore best practices to proactively manage worker safety, including the adoption of a safety-centric culture and leveraging technology. By prioritizing safety and adopting proactive strategies, construction companies can significantly reduce risks, align with OSHA standards, and contribute to a safer, healthier workplace.

Table of contents

Types of OSHA inspections

Various construction workplace scenarios can trigger OSHA inspections. Below are some of the more common examples.

Complaint-based inspections

If an employee, union , or external party files a complaint about a specific hazard on a construction site , OSHA inspectors — also known as compliance officers — will investigate the issue. When this occurs, the inspector primarily focuses on investigating the issue stated in the complaint. However, inspectors have the authority to cite the site for any immediate life and health dangers discovered during the inspection, even if they aren’t related to the complaint at hand. This process ensures addressing all hazardous aspects of the site.

Scheduled inspections

Scheduled inspections are regular OSHA activities that analyze systemic safety concerns instead of focusing solely on obvious issues. These comprehensive inspections assess adherence to several OSHA standards applicable to high-risk areas like confined space entry, hot work procedures, fall protection , electrical safety practices , and conditions leading to caught-between or struck-by accidents. These inspections often result in actionable feedback, allowing construction sites to improve their safety protocols and practices.

Learn more: The top OSHA violations in construction

Inspections triggered by visible hazards

OSHA has the authority to intervene immediately if they notice an unsafe situation on a construction site, even during an unplanned visit. This may happen if a compliance officer notices hazards that present immediate danger to the health and life of people onsite.

 If an inspector notices a hazard, they can halt work, conduct a thorough investigation, and even issue citations for safety violations. This process can lead to prompt corrective action and prevent future incidents.

Invitational inspections

If a general contractor or site superintendent wants expert advice on improving safety, they can invite OSHA inspectors to their site for a consultation . These proactive inspections foster a cooperative relationship between OSHA and the contractor. 

During these inspections, OSHA inspectors provide recommendations and advice but usually don't issue citations. This approach shows the contractor's commitment to worker safety and can result in a stronger safety culture and better compliance, leading to fewer accidents and injuries.

Incident or injury-triggered inspections

One of the primary reasons OSHA visits construction jobsites is for inspections due to an incident or injury. Employers must legally report severe incidents, such as hospitalization, amputation, loss of an eye, or a fatality, to OSHA within a specific period. 

OSHA conducts investigations following these reports to identify safety standard violations that may have contributed to the incident. These inspections aim to prevent future accidents from occurring and ensure worker safety.

Each type of inspection serves a critical function in maintaining safety standards at construction sites. By understanding the triggers and focus areas for each type of inspection, contractors and subcontractors can better prepare for OSHA inspections and proactively address safety issues. Let’s jump into each stage of an OSHA inspection.

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The OSHA inspection process: 6 key steps

When an OSHA inspection takes place at a construction site, contractors can expect OSHA inspectors to follow a set procedure. Understanding each stage of the process can help construction organizations prepare for their inspections. 

1. Preparation & initial arrival

Before an inspector arrives on the construction site, they collect key background information about the site and its operations: past inspection history, utilized processes, and applicable OSHA rules. Upon their arrival at the jobsite, the inspector validates their identity to the company. This step confirms that an official inspection will take place .

 In some cases, OSHA might choose to do a remote inspection via phone or fax for “lower-priority” hazards that can be corrected easily and quickly or don’t present an immediate danger. For example, a minor electrical issue or non-compliance with signage requirements might be considered lower priority.

After remote action from OSHA, the employer must respond in writing within five working days, identifying any problems found and noting corrective actions taken or planned. If the response is adequate and the complainant is satisfied with the response, OSHA generally will not conduct an on-site inspection.

2. Opening conference

Upon arrival at the workplace, the OSHA inspector presents their credentials to the employer, including a photograph and a serial number. The inspector then holds an opening conference with the employer and the employee representative. This meeting is the initial introduction between the OSHA inspector and the site representatives — usually the site manager, safety officer , and employee representative. 

The employee representative — who is selected by the workers and not the employer — plays a crucial role in the inspection process. During this dialogue, the inspector specifies the inspection's scope, outlines the purpose of the audit, and responds to any inquiries from the representatives. The inspector also requests documentation, such as injury and sickness logs, training records, or written safety plans .

3. Walkthrough inspection

After the opening meeting, the inspector and site representatives do a walkthrough of the site, trying to spot any dangerous or unhealthy situations or practices . The inspector might take photos or measurements and document the observed conditions in detail. The inspector promptly addresses any immediate dangers to life and health. The Employee Representative has the right to accompany the inspector during the inspection.

4. Employee interviews

During inspections, inspectors and employees may meet privately to discuss vital safety information. Employees have the right to request these private interviews with the inspector, and their responses remain confidential. If an employee doesn't feel comfortable, they can defer the interview or request their direct supervisor, employee representative, or union representative to be present during the interview. Companies can teach their employees about their rights during these interviews. Interviews help inspectors gather information about safety practices, training practices, protective equipment use, and other workplace conditions that workers experience firsthand.

5. Closing conference

After the walkthrough and the interviews, the inspector holds a closing conference with the employer and the employee representative. During this meeting, the inspector discusses their findings, including any unsafe conditions or practices identified during the inspection and any citations that may be issued. This conversation gives everyone an opportunity to clarify questions and misunderstandings, and provides an understanding of the necessary steps to take to reach compliance.

6. Post-inspection actions

After the inspection, the inspector compiles a report of the findings. OSHA issues citations if violations occur. The citation describes the nature of the violation, proposes a timeline for correction, and assesses a penalty amount if applicable. Employers must correct cited conditions before the deadline, pay any penalties, or dispute the findings .

Preventing OSHA inspections & citations

While there is no way for construction companies to prevent OSHA inspections entirely, they can take steps to improve jobsite safety in an effort to reduce the risk of injury or complaint that may trigger an inspection. Ultimately, companies that know what to expect during an OSHA inspection — and train their workforce to prepare for one — have little to fear. 

In order to prevent OSHA citations, companies should consider adopting proactive strategies that not only ensure compliance with safety regulations, but also foster a culture of safety within their organization.

Take a proactive approach to safety

To prevent OSHA citations, there are definitely measures a construction company can take to mitigate risks before hazards occur. 

Regular safety audits, risk management efforts, and thorough hazard assessments are crucial steps to ensure compliance with safety regulations. Implementing a proactive approach can demonstrate to OSHA your company's commitment to maintaining a safe work environment, preventing accidents, and violations.

Foster a culture of safety & compliance

Engaging all levels of the organization in safety measures is key to cultivating a safety-centered culture that reduces the likelihood of OSHA citations. Regular safety meetings, continuous employee training , and clear communication about safety expectations can encourage employees to report unsafe conditions and actively participate in safety initiatives. Building a culture of safety-oriented compliance keeps everyone onsite safe.

Learn more: Creating a Culture of Safety in Construction

Use software to track compliance

Leveraging technology is an effective strategy for improving safety practices and preventing OSHA citations. Construction management software enables easy documentation of safety meetings and employee training tracking, and real-time communication of safety issues, simplifying the process of demonstrating compliance during an OSHA inspection. It ensures safety is always top of mind, simplified record keeping, and makes managing safety practices straightforward.

Prepare for potential OSHA interviews

Making sure employees know what to expect during an OSHA inspection can contribute to better outcomes. This process includes informing them about their rights during an OSHA interview, such as the option to request the presence of a union representative or a supervisor . This preparation helps to avoid confusion or panic when OSHA inspectors arrive.

Act in good faith

The way a company interacts with OSHA and its inspectors significantly impacts the outcome of inspections and any penalties incurred. OSHA differentiates between companies that act "in good faith" and those that commit "willful violations."

"Good faith" companies actively cooperate with OSHA inspections, encourage employee participation, and promptly address safety concerns. They invite OSHA for voluntary inspections, implement thorough safety training, and maintain comprehensive safety procedure records. This commitment to safety can lead to penalty reductions under OSHA policy, as OSHA acknowledges proactive, cooperative, and responsible behavior.

Conversely, "willful violations" occur when a company intentionally disregards OSHA regulations or is indifferent to employee safety. This could include neglecting safety concerns, failing to provide safety training, or resisting OSHA inspections. Willful violations indicate a lack of concern for employee safety and disrespect for protective regulations. Consequently, these violations are taken very seriously by OSHA and often result in substantial penalties. Good faith adjustments are not made for alleged willful violations.

Go beyond OSHA standards for safety

While OSHA standards provide a minimum level of safety, exceeding these standards demonstrates a commitment to employee health and safety.

 It's crucial to document policies that exceed these standards and ensure they are implemented effectively. Clear understanding of internal policies is essential as companies can be held accountable by OSHA.

Document everything

Proper documentation serves as proof of compliance while also identifying areas for improvement. Firms should include safety training records, evidence of hazard assessments, safety meeting records, and certifications in thorough documentation.

OSHA inspections don’t need to be seen as a threat or stressor, but as an opportunity to improve the safety of the workplace and well-being of employees. Companies should use these inspections as learning experiences to pinpoint and rectify any shortcomings in their safety protocols. Ultimately, the goal of every business should be to go beyond mere compliance and strive for a culture of safety excellence.

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Construction safety basics, .css-itzh1q{height:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}.css-itzh1q::before{width:100%;height:100%;display:block;position:absolute;top:0px;left:0px;z-index:0;content:'';cursor:inherit;} creating a culture of safety in construction, mastering the construction safety walk, common accidents on construction sites , site specific safety plans: what to include — and why they’re important, performing a job safety analysis (jsa) in construction, construction ppe: what contractors need for jobsite safety, construction safety officer: duties & requirements.

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Writing Incident Reports

Stacey Corbitt

Chapter Overview

Without exception and across the globe, every workplace in your professional career is likely to apply considerable value to safety, health, and security of the business and all of its assets. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) is the regulating and enforcement entity whose mission is “to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance” ( https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha , n.d.). The importance of record keeping in the areas of safety and health cannot be overstated; and all employees are responsible for some level of preparing safety documentation. This chapter aims to provide you with tools for success in writing a workplace-specific genre: the incident report .

Think about your own experiences, at work or in another capacity. What training have you completed related to safety, security, or health? Why do you think the organization provided the training? How did you benefit from being trained? How did the organization benefit? Be prepared to discuss your experience in class.

Preparing to write an incident report

Employers often include training on their company safety program as part of new employee orientation: as a result, as you begin or continue your professional career, you will become familiar with your company’s requirements and your responsibilities for documentation of accidents and other reportable incidents. This section provides information about typical company procedures you may encounter.

Before anything happens

Information collection procedures should be provided in the workplace safety and health plan handbook or other document, and may be accompanied by one or more forms designed to capture all initial information about the incident. Always be familiar with the incident reporting procedures required by your employer so you are prepared to address your responsibility in clear, complete, concise, and correct documentation.

After something happens

First, in the event you are involved in or witness an accident or other event that is outside the normal and expected course of business while in the workplace, be prepared to collect and recall detailed information according to a plan specified by your employer. It may be critical to make observations, ask questions, write information down, make sketches, and take photographs as soon as safely possible following any emergency procedures. Familiarity with the employer’s safety protocols ensures you can minimize further risk to individuals and to the company.

Collecting important data

Perhaps your career will provide opportunities for you to conduct in-depth investigations for your employer, and you may prepare lengthy, detailed investigation reports addressing things like root causes and policy changes. Regardless of his or her position within the company, however, each employee has a responsibility to work safely and to report incidents or unsafe conditions. As noted above, many times the latter level of reporting amounts to completing one or more specialized forms similar to the one provided in Figure 1 below. Review the example form and be prepared to discuss it with your peers in class.

Figure 1. Partial initial incident report information collection form (Sandvick, 2020)

The facts about an incident are collected in the form shown in Figure 1 using reporters’ questions: that is, those questions that elicit what , where , when , who , how , and why information. Additionally, certain incident types require visual media representation of details. Working with a classmate, discuss a parking lot collision or other incident involving at least one driver and vehicle. Besides answering the questions provided in Figure 1, what other kinds of visual information could you collect and provide to help readers understand the incident?

In the event your organization does not have a readily-available data collection form to use, the reporters’ questions may provide sufficient guidance for you to collect incident details. In any case, the two important goals to meet in preparing to write an incident report are as follows:

• Collect the facts about and observations of the incident as soon as is safely possible, distinguishing between your own observations and those relayed to you by other witnesses; and
• Create any photographs, diagrams, and other visual data as soon as it is safe to do so.

Organizing and drafting an internal incident report

Your organization’s policies and procedures, together with your position, will determine the next steps you should take in the incident reporting process. As an intern or junior-level professional, your responsibility may end with completion and submission of the reporting form(s). If you have management or executive authority, you are more likely to be tasked with writing a complete narrative incident report. Finally, if you have primary responsibility for health, safety, and/or security within your workplace – perhaps you are a safety coordinator – you may need to collect the initial witness report forms; conduct complete investigations; prepare one or more formal narrative reports; make training or disciplinary decisions; recommend policy changes; and prepare official reports for state and federal authorities.

Understand that the specific requirements of your employer may be unique to your business and to the type of workplace incident being reported. Table 1 below contains questions you must answer in the drafting process: discuss the scope of and reasons for those questions.

Table 1. Considerations for organizing and drafting your report

A word about preparing external incident reports

As noted in the introduction, OSHA may have regulatory authority over your employer. In that event, you may be required to report the details of a workplace accident or other incident according to the specifications of OSHA and in a format they prescribe. As you review Figure 2, notice the information required by the report form. How does it compare to the information provided in a typical internal incident report as represented in the previous section of this chapter? What can you tell about OSHA’s priorities from its reporting form?

Figure 2. Online incident report form required by OSHA for some incidents (2004)

Finalizing internal incident reports

Organizing your effort, taking stock of your progress through the reporting process and reorganizing your information is a constant in incident reporting. At this point, you should be able to check off the following steps:

• Ensure you have collected all relevant answers to the reporters’ questions from both your own point of view and that of others involved in or witnessing the incident.
• Confirm you have taken photos and created or obtained drawings as needed to fully and clearly explain the sequence of events and extent of damage.
• Obtain copies of any other documentation (police reports, for example) or artifacts from the scene of the incident that will accompany your internal report.

Draft your report using the format prescribed by your employer or, if no specifics are given, use a standard business memorandum format. Keep in mind both the intended audience and the potential readers as you write; and remember that your purpose is to objectively report the facts and details of the incident in a clear, concise, complete, correct, and usable document.

Chapter conclusion

Incident reports are a workplace-specific genre of writing that generally appear in report memo format. Like all forms of technical writing, incident reports succeed when they are clear, complete, concise, and correct. This genre is frequently written for one audience who then may disseminate it to a much broader audience. The challenges of incident reporting include careful organizing, integrating graphics, and especially reporting facts and observations objectively and completely without addressing the author’s opinions or judgments. Just (all) the facts, please.

Activity: A case study

Read and discuss the following scenario with your classmates as directed by your instructor.

Safety First

Carolyn has 3 semesters left to complete her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering. Last summer, she was hired as a field sampling technician for a growing environmental engineering firm. Her employer specializes in groundwater remediation.

Carolyn’s training in the first week of her internship included the following topics:

• Safe operation of company and worksite vehicles, both at the office and in the field
• Use and care of personal protective equipment
• Handling, marking, and disposal of samples, equipment, and supplies
• Completing daily work logs and weekly progress reports

Protocols for reporting accidents and near misses

Carolyn also learned from the junior-level project engineers who trained her that interns and new hires typically are expected to do most of the paperwork.

On Wednesday of the second week of her internship, Carolyn had an opportunity to test her skills at collecting and reporting information about an accident involving damage to company property. Joey, a project engineer who oversaw Carolyn’s training on the sampling process, was driving a company pickup from the office to the field worksite.

• The truck assigned that day to Joey and Carolyn had been parked front-end first in the fleet yard, which violated the safe operation and parking rules of the company.
• Joey noticed there were no chocks at the wheels of the truck. Since he didn’t need to remove any chocks, he did not complete a walk-around of the vehicle.
• Carolyn climbed into the passenger side of the truck and fastened her seat belt.
• Since the parking spot was positioned against the building, preventing him from pulling through, Joey backed out.

Joey backed the truck out of the parking spot and collided with a cement barrier. The collision broke the taillight cover on the truck’s passenger side and dented the bumper. There was also damage to the paint on the truck’s tailgate.

Answer the questions and be prepared to discuss your answers in class.

• Consider the audience, which may include safety officers; business owners; direct supervisors; medical personnel; and insurance and legal agents. What needs do all members of this audience have in common?
• Carolyn is an intern and is just starting her work at the company. She doesn’t want to become known as “a troublemaker” among her peers. What should she include in her witness account of the incident report? What should she avoid in the report? Why?
• Would you advise Carolyn to include any photographs in her incident report? If so, what should she photograph? If not, why not?

Refer to Figure 3 below as you complete the homework.

Figure 3. Example of an employer’s instructions

Instructions for Employees:  Making an Initial Property Damage Incident Report

Report as soon as possible within 4 hours of the incident via email addressed to [email protected].

• Subject line of email: “MM/DD/YYYY Property Damage Notification.”
• Include the following information in the body of the email:
• Names of employees present, whether involved or possible witnesses
• Organization unit, office phone and cell phone numbers of employee making report
• Time, weather, and site address and description of incident location
• Describe the work being performed and the equipment and/or other property damage
• Attach pictures of the location and damaged area(s) of equipment.
• CC the unit supervisor and all other employees present at the time of the incident.

Developmental writing assignment

Work together with a partner to agree on the details of the incident to be reported. You will need to make decisions about any details not provided in the scenario but required by the reporting instructions: for example, you will need to decide on a date and time of day for the incident. What other assumptions do you make?

Why do you think the instructions require a report within 4 hours and submitted via email ?

Technical writing document creation assignment

Write and submit the employer-required incident report email for the accident identified in the Activity section above.

“How to write an incident report” by Clinton M. Sandvick (2020). Provided by: wikiHow. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 .   https://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Incident-Report .

Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2004). OSHA forms for recording work-related injuries and illnesses. Retrieved from OSHA.gov website: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/RKforms.html

Mindful Technical Writing Copyright © 2020 by Stacey Corbitt is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — OSHA — A Report on OSHA

A Report on OSHA

• Categories: OSHA

About this sample

Words: 473 |

Published: Jan 30, 2024

Words: 473 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Overview of osha, importance of osha in ensuring workplace safety, impact of osha on businesses, impact of osha on employees, criticisms of osha, osha's future role and challenges, references:.

• United States Department of Labor. "About OSHA". https://www.osha.gov/about.html
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. "The Impact of Safety and Health on Business". https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/theimpactofsafetyhealth.pdf
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "Benefits and Costs of OSHA Regulations". https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03/osha3355.pdf

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Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs

Hazard prevention and control.

Effective controls protect workers from workplace hazards; help avoid injuries, illnesses, and incidents; minimize or eliminate safety and health risks; and help employers provide workers with safe and healthful working conditions. The processes described in this section will help employers prevent and control hazards identified in the previous section.

To effectively control and prevent hazards, employers should:

• Involve workers, who often have the best understanding of the conditions that create hazards and insights into how they can be controlled.
• Identify and evaluate options for controlling hazards, using a "hierarchy of controls."
• Use a hazard control plan to guide the selection and implementation of controls, and implement controls according to the plan.
• Develop plans with measures to protect workers during emergencies and nonroutine activities.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls to determine whether they continue to provide protection, or whether different controls may be more effective. Review new technologies for their potential to be more protective, more reliable, or less costly.

Action item 1: Identify control options

Action item 2: select controls, action item 3: develop and update a hazard control plan, action item 4: select controls to protect workers during nonroutine operations and emergencies, action item 5: implement selected controls in the workplace, action item 6: follow up to confirm that controls are effective.

A wealth of information exists to help employers investigate options for controlling identified hazards. Before selecting any control options, it is essential to solicit workers' input on their feasibility and effectiveness.

How to accomplish it

Collect, organize, and review information with workers to determine what types of hazards may be present and which workers may be exposed or potentially exposed. Information available in the workplace may include:

• Review sources such as OSHA standards and guidance, industry consensus standards, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) publications, manufacturers' literature, and engineering reports to identify potential control measures. Keep current on relevant information from trade or professional associations.
• Investigate control measures used in other workplaces and determine whether they would be effective at your workplace.
• Get input from workers who may be able to suggest and evaluate solutions based on their knowledge of the facility, equipment, and work processes.
• For complex hazards, consult with safety and health experts, including OSHA's On-site Consultation Program .

Employers should select the controls that are the most feasible, effective, and permanent.

• Eliminate or control all serious hazards (hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm) immediately.
• Use interim controls while you develop and implement longer-term solutions.
• Select controls according to a hierarchy that emphasizes engineering solutions (including elimination or substitution) first, followed by safe work practices, administrative controls, and finally personal protective equipment.
• Avoid selecting controls that may directly or indirectly introduce new hazards. Examples include exhausting contaminated air into occupied work spaces or using hearing protection that makes it difficult to hear backup alarms.
• Review and discuss control options with workers to ensure that controls are feasible and effective.
• Use a combination of control options when no single method fully protects workers.

Note: Whenever possible, select equipment, machinery, and materials that are inherently safer based on the application of "Prevention through Design" (PtD) principles. Apply PtD when making your own facility, equipment, or product design decisions. For more information, see the link to the NIOSH PtD initiative in Additional Resources .

A hazard control plan describes how the selected controls will be implemented. An effective plan will address serious hazards first. Interim controls may be necessary, but the overall goal is to ensure effective long-term control of hazards. It is important to track progress toward completing the control plan and periodically (at least annually and when conditions, processes or equipment change) verify that controls remain effective.

• List the hazards needing controls in order of priority.
• Assign responsibility for installing or implementing the controls to a specific person or persons with the power or ability to implement the controls.
• Establish a target completion date.
• Plan how you will track progress toward completion.
• Plan how you will verify the effectiveness of controls after they are installed or implemented.

The hazard control plan should include provisions to protect workers during nonroutine operations and foreseeable emergencies. Depending on your workplace, these could include fires and explosions; chemical releases; hazardous material spills; unplanned equipment shutdowns; infrequent maintenance activities; natural and weather disasters; workplace violence; terrorist or criminal attacks; disease outbreaks (e.g., pandemic influenza); or medical emergencies. Nonroutine tasks, or tasks workers don't normally do, should be approached with particular caution. Prior to initiating such work, review job hazard analyses and job safety analyses with any workers involved and notify others about the nature of the work, work schedule, and any necessary precautions.

• Develop procedures to control hazards that may arise during nonroutine operations (e.g., removing machine guarding during maintenance and repair).
• Develop or modify plans to control hazards that may arise in emergency situations.
• Procure any equipment needed to control emergency-related hazards.
• Assign responsibilities for implementing the emergency plan.
• Conduct emergency drills to ensure that procedures and equipment provide adequate protection during emergency situations.

Note: Depending on your location, type of business, and materials stored or used on site, authorities including local fire and emergency response departments, state agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and OSHA may have additional requirements for emergency plans. Ensure that your procedures comply with these requirements.

Once hazard prevention and control measures have been identified, they should be implemented according to the hazard control plan.

• Implement hazard control measures according to the priorities established in the hazard control plan.
• When resources are limited, implement measures on a "worst-first" basis, according to the hazard ranking priorities (risk) established during hazard identification and assessment. (Note, however, that regardless of limited resources, employers have an obligation to protect workers from recognized, serious hazards.)
• Promptly implement any measures that are easy and inexpensive—e.g., general housekeeping, removal of obvious tripping hazards such as electrical cords, basic lighting—regardless of the level of hazard they involve.

To ensure that control measures are and remain effective, employers should track progress in implementing controls, inspect and evaluate controls once they are installed, and follow routine preventive maintenance practices.

• Have all control measures been implemented according to the hazard control plan?
• Have engineering controls been properly installed and tested?
• Have workers been appropriately trained so that they understand the controls, including how to operate engineering controls, safe work practices, and PPE use requirements?
• Are controls being used correctly and consistently?
• Conduct regular inspections (and industrial hygiene monitoring, if indicated) to confirm that engineering controls are operating as designed.
• Evaluate control measures to determine if they are effective or need to be modified. Involve workers in the evaluation of the controls. If controls are not effective, identify, select, and implement further control measures that will provide adequate protection.
• Confirm that work practices, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment use policies are being followed.
• Conduct routine preventive maintenance of equipment, facilities, and controls to help prevent incidents due to equipment failure.

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