OSHA 10 key terms

The federal law that created OSHA and gave workers the right to a safe workplace. It authorizes inspections, citations, and penalties, and it covers most private-sector employers in the United States.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency within the Department of Labor that sets and enforces workplace safety standards. It also provides training, compliance assistance, and free consultation services to employers.

A catch-all provision requiring employers to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm, even when no specific standard applies. It is used when no other standard covers the hazard.

A danger that a reasonable person in the employer's industry would know exists, or that the employer itself has identified. It must be feasible to correct and likely to cause serious harm for the General Duty Clause to apply.

A workplace visit by a compliance officer to determine whether an employer is following safety standards. Inspections may be programmed, complaint-driven, referral-based, or follow a fatality or catastrophic event.

An OSHA representative who conducts inspections, interviews workers, examines records, and documents hazards. The officer holds a credential and may not be refused entry without a warrant in most cases.

A formal notice from OSHA alleging a violation of a standard or the General Duty Clause. It states the alleged violation, proposed abatement time, and proposed penalty.

The correction of a hazard or violation identified during an inspection. Employers must abate by the date set in the citation and may be required to certify that the fix was completed.

A monetary fine OSHA may propose for violations. Amounts vary by violation type and are adjusted annually for inflation; willful and repeat violations carry the highest maximums.

A violation the employer commits with intentional disregard for, or plain indifference to, the law's requirements. It is the most serious category and carries the highest penalties.

A violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. It carries a mandatory penalty.

Legal protection against retaliation for workers who report safety concerns, file complaints, or participate in inspections. About twenty statutes are enforced under OSHA's whistleblower program.

An adverse action such as firing, demotion, or discipline taken against a worker for exercising protected safety rights. Workers must generally file a complaint within a set time limit.

A report filed by a worker or their representative alleging a safety or health hazard. Depending on the situation, OSHA may inspect, conduct an off-site inquiry, or send a letter to the employer.

Rights that include receiving safety training, obtaining information about hazards, reviewing injury records, filing complaints, and requesting an inspection. Workers may also accompany the inspector on a walkaround.

The portion of an inspection in which the compliance officer physically examines the worksite. An employee representative may accompany the officer to point out hazards and answer questions.

The first meeting of an inspection, where the compliance officer explains the purpose and scope, and requests employer and employee representatives. It sets the stage for the walkaround and records review.

The requirement that certain employers keep a log of work-related injuries and illnesses (Form 300) and post an annual summary (Form 300A). Some employers must also report severe injuries to OSHA.

The Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, used to record each recordable case with details such as date, employee, and nature of injury. It must be retained for five years.

The duty to notify OSHA of a work-related fatality within eight hours and of an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within twenty-four hours. Reports can be made by phone or online.

A state-run occupational safety and health program approved by federal OSHA. State plans must be at least as effective as the federal program and may cover public-sector workers federal OSHA does not.

The national agency that enforces the OSH Act in states without an approved state plan and oversees state plan performance. It also sets the baseline standards states must meet.

The four hazard categories responsible for the majority of construction fatalities: falls, struck-by, caught-in or -between, and electrocution. OSHA training emphasizes recognizing and controlling each.

A condition where a worker could drop to a lower level, such as from an unguarded edge, ladder, or roof. Falls are the leading cause of death in construction and are addressed by guardrails, nets, and personal fall arrest.

Systems and practices used to prevent or arrest falls, including guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest. Construction fall protection is generally required at six feet or more above a lower level.

Equipment that stops a fall after it begins, consisting of an anchor, connector, and full-body harness. It must limit arrest force and prevent contact with a lower level.

A secure attachment point for fall arrest equipment that can support the required load, typically 5,000 pounds per worker. It must be independent of the work platform and positioned to limit fall distance.

A barrier along an open edge or floor hole with a top rail, midrail, and toe board. It provides passive fall protection without requiring worker action.

A cover over a floor opening that is secured and marked to prevent workers from stepping into or tripping on the hole. Covers must support at least twice the intended load.

A hazard in which a worker is hit by an object, vehicle, or piece of equipment, such as falling tools or a swinging crane load. Controls include hard hats, toe boards, exclusion zones, and safe lifting practices.

A hazard where a worker is squeezed, crushed, or trapped between objects or by collapsing material, such as in a trench collapse or unguarded machine. Controls include trench protective systems and machine guarding.

A method used to prevent cave-ins in excavations, such as sloping, shoring, or shielding. Trenches five feet or deeper generally require a protective system unless made entirely in stable rock.

Death caused by electric shock. In construction it is often linked to overhead power lines, damaged cords, and wet conditions, and is one of the Focus Four hazards.

A device that quickly shuts off power when it detects current leaking to ground, protecting workers from shock. It is required for temporary construction receptacles and extension cords.

An alternative to GFCI protection for construction tools that requires regular inspection and testing of grounding conductors and cords. It must be documented and performed by a competent person.

A procedure that isolates hazardous energy sources before maintenance or repair so equipment cannot start unexpectedly. It involves locks, tags, and verification of de-energization.

Physical barriers or devices that prevent workers from contacting moving machine parts. Guards protect against amputations and caught-in hazards and must not be removed during normal operation.

A person capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective action. In construction, competent persons are required for tasks such as excavations, scaffolds, and fall protection.

An elevated temporary work platform. It must be erected, moved, and dismantled under a competent person's supervision, with proper footing, planking, and fall protection.

Head protection worn to reduce injury from falling objects and impacts. It must be worn in areas where overhead hazards exist and inspected for damage.

A marked area where only authorized workers may enter, used to keep people away from hazards such as crane swing radiuses or demolition debris. Barricades and signage typically define the boundary.

The area swept by the rotating superstructure or load of a crane. It must be barricaded to prevent workers from being struck or crushed.

Gear such as hard hats, gloves, eye protection, and respirators worn to reduce exposure to hazards. Employers must provide it at no cost and train workers on its use and limitations.

A process of identifying workplace hazards and selecting appropriate controls, including PPE. It is required in general industry and is a foundation for a safety and health program.

A condition, activity, or source of potential harm that could cause injury or illness. Hazard recognition is the first step in controlling risk through elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, or PPE controls.

The branch of OSHA that provides education through the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers. It offers courses such as the OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour construction and general industry classes.

A short training course covering safety basics, with construction and general industry versions. It includes an introduction to OSHA, Focus Four hazards for construction, and how to find further resources.

A more in-depth training course intended for supervisors and workers with safety responsibilities. It expands on hazard recognition and control beyond the 10-hour course.

An online, interactive resource on OSHA's website that walks users through hazards and controls for specific industries or tasks. eTools are free and do not replace required training.

Printed or electronic guidance from OSHA, such as fact sheets, quick cards, and booklets. Many are available in multiple languages and can be downloaded free from the agency's website.

A free, confidential service that helps small employers identify and fix hazards without penalties or citations. It is separate from enforcement and is delivered by state agencies.

OSHA materials translated into Spanish, including publications, training aids, and parts of the website. They help ensure workers with limited English proficiency can understand hazards and their rights.

The practice of providing safety information and training in a language workers understand. It supports effective communication of hazards and is part of an employer's training duty.

The requirement that safety training be presented so workers can comprehend it, which may require translation or interpretation. Simply handing out English materials is generally not enough.

The set of slides and materials used to deliver OSHA 10-hour training. Presentations should cover required topics and be adapted to the audience's language and reading level.

Statements describing what a trainee should know or be able to do after a lesson. They guide course presentation and help instructors measure whether training was effective.

A short question or activity during training that confirms trainees understand key points. It helps instructors adjust the presentation and reinforces important safety concepts.