OSHA, or the Occupational Health and Safety Act, was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 29, 1970. Its main goal is to ensure that employers provide employees with an environment free from recognized hazards, such as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary conditions. Since its implementation, OSHA has been pivotal in maintaining worker safety at construction sites all over the country.

The most common OSHA violation and most frequent cause of injury at worksites is lack of fall protection. Each year, numerous construction workers are injured due to falls at the worksite. Over 400 of these workers unfortunately fall to their deaths. These gruesome and tragic statistics demonstrate that at any time you are working at height, whether it is on a ladder, scaffold, roof, or some other elevated platform, the proper safety measures must be implemented. These measures require properly graded ladders and scaffolds, toe boards to protect against debris, safety harnesses, and safety guards. Without the aforementioned protection, onsite falls become more likely and workers are placed in danger.

Apart from fall protection, OSHA provides various other standards to ensure worker safety. Among them, OSHA requires proper measures to be taken regarding chemicals, mechanical appliances, and unsanitary conditions. As a worker, it is your right to be trained in the applicable OSHA regulations involved at your worksite. Knowing and understanding both the regulations and dangers are key to staying safe on the job.