The Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 by President Nixon’s Occupational Safety and Health Act. The purpose of this agency is to protect employees from work-related injuries, illness, and abuse. They do so by creating laws and regulations regarding workplace requirements and protocol. Any concerns regarding workplace safety go through OSHA.

What is Occupational Safety and Health?

Occupational safety and health covers a wide breadth of topics, all of which relate to the wellbeing of those involved in a workplace environment. This protection extends to cover worker family members and others who are tied into a workplace environment, such as suppliers or customers. There are a number of programs and organizations which work to promote this topic, with the main and federally-sponsored one being the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Penalties for Violating an OSHA Standard

If a company violates a regulation or law set in place by OSHA, it faces serious penalties. Businesses may be required to pay up to $70,000 in fines for a breach of standards. The fines are closer to that maximum for cases in which employees are injured as a result of the violation. Repeat violations, or those that are intentional, may result in the full $70,000 punishment.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about OSHA and the regulations it has set in place, contact the San Antonio employment lawyers of Melton & Kumler, LLP today at 800-681-6932 with any questions you may have.