Employers Overload

Emergency Employer Responsibilities

OSHA Responsibilities; Emergency Response Protocols

Employers have certain responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The following list is a summary of the most important ones:

Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSHA Act.

Examine workplace conditions to make sure they conform to applicable OSHA standards.

Make sure employees have and use safe tools and equipment and properly maintain this equipment.

Use color codes, posters, labels or signs to warn employees of potential hazards.

Establish or update operating procedures and communicate them so that employees follow safety and health requirements.

Provide medical examinations and training when required by OSHA standards.

Post, at a prominent location within the workplace, the OSHA poster (or the state-plan equivalent) informing employees of their rights and responsibilities.

Report to the nearest OSHA office within 8 hours any fatal accident or one that results in the hospitalization of three or more employees.

Keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses. (Note: Employers with 10 or fewer employees and employers in certain low-hazard industries are exempt from this requirement.)

Provide employees, former employees and their representatives access to the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300).

For 2002 only, post a copy of the totals from the last page of the OSHA 200 Log during the entire month of February 2002.

Provide access to employee medical records and exposure records to employees or their authorized representatives.

The information on this Web page is for supervisors who do not deploy to disaster response, but are at the "home office." These resources contain information to help supervisors determine who might be best suited for deployment, prepare employees for deployment and ensure that returning employees have a smooth transition back into the workplace.

A Guide to Managing Stress in Crisis Response Professions. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Publication No. SMA 4113.

A Pre-Deployment Resource for Supervisors. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Brochure NMH06-0235.

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Brochure NMH06-0235.

A Post-Deployment Guide for Supervisors of Deployed Personnel. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Brochure NMH06-0235.

Returning Home After Disaster Relief Work. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Brochure NMH05-0215.

Returning Home Questionnaire. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Brochure NMH06-0235.

Provide to the OSHA compliance officer the names of authorized employee representatives who may be asked to accompany the compliance officer during an inspection.

Not discriminate against employees who exercise their rights under the Act.

Post OSHA citations at or near the work area involved. Each citation must remain posted until the violation has been corrected, or for three working days, whichever is longer. Post abatement verification documents or tags.

Correct cited violations by the deadline set in the OSHA citation and submit required abatement verification documentation.