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WASHINGTON – To
help ensure that workers have a voice in their workplaces and the protection
they deserve, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration today unveiled a
new version of its “Job Safety
and Health – It’s The Law!” poster. The poster informs workers of their
rights, and employers of their responsibilities.
“This
poster emphasizes a very important principle when it comes to prevention – that
every worker has a voice,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational
Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “Workers need to know their rights and be
able to use their rights, without fear of retaliation, when they believe that
their safety or health is at risk.”
The newly designed poster informs workers of their right to
request an OSHA inspection of their workplaces, receive information and
training on job hazards, report a work-related injury or illness, and raise
safety and health concerns with their employer or OSHA without being retaliated
against.
The poster informs employers of their legal obligation to
provide a safe workplace. In addition, it has been updated to include the new
reporting obligations for employers, who must now report every fatality and
every hospitalization, amputation and loss of an eye. It also informs employers
of their responsibilities to train all workers in a language and vocabulary
they can understand, comply with OSHA standards, and post citations at or near
the place of an alleged violation.
Over the agency’s 44-year history, there have been several
versions of the official OSHA poster, with the last update published in 2007.
OSHA’s “It’s the Law” poster is free and can be downloaded. Employers must display the poster in a conspicuous place
where workers can see it. Previous versions of the poster do not need to be replaced.
Under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for
providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role
is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by
setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and
assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
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