OSHA's New Plan - Employers must keep Track of Work-related Injuries

The U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration was started by the Congress of the United States, on 29th December 1970, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. From its introduction, OSHA's main goal has been to prevent work-related fatalities and serious injuries, by enforcing and issuing certain standards and regulations, in order to assure workplace health and safety.

From the very beginning, OSHA has not only emphasized the importance of safety at the workplace, but has also never spared anyone who tries to violate its safety regulations. Present below are a list of statements that highlight OSHA's priorities:

• The Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, Dr. David Michaels, stated that, “All workers have the right to work in a safe environment, and the Labor Department will use all legal means necessary to ensure companies comply with established safety requirements."

• An OSHA spokesman, Mr. Scott Allen of Chicago recently said that, “When someone does something willfully, we hammer them pretty good.”

Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has made it clear that it is moving forward on a rule that would require employers to keep track of work-related injuries that are associated with ergonomics risks. This regulation will most definitely cost employers time and money to implement. However, where safety is concerned money cannot be an obstacle.