BLAW Exam 2 study guide part 3 UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
The Occupational Safety and Health Act is a landmark federal law enacted to ensure safe and
healthy working conditions for employees across the United States. It authorizes
the development and
enforcement of workplace safety and health standards and establishes the key
institutions responsible
for these protections.
Purpose of the OSHA Act To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women" by:
Setting mandatory occupational safety and health standards;
The Act is designed to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities by
placing responsibility on
employers to identify and eliminate hazards
Who Is Covered by the Act? Most private-sector employers and employees in all U.S. states and territories
• Coverage may be provided either directly by federal OSHA or by state OSHA-
approved plans
, Not covered under the OSHA Act: • Self-employed individuals; Family-run farms employing only immediate family;
Certain industries
regulated by other federal laws (e.g., mining, nuclear energy, some transportation
jobs)
• State and local government workers unless their state has an OSHA-approved
public-sector plan
Federal employees are covered through a separate statutory program requiring
federal agencies to
follow OSHA standards.
Major Requirements Under the OSHA Act employers must:
1. Provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or
serious harm
2. Comply with all OSHA safety and health standards
3. Ensure employees follow safety rules
Examples of hazards OSHA standards address include: Toxic chemical exposure;
Mechanical dangers;
Excessive noise; Heat/cold stress; Unsanitary condition
OSHA Standards are regulations that: Require specific protective measures, practices, or
equipment; Communicate chemical hazards via labeling, safety data sheets, and
training; Are based on scientific research and analysis
Enforcement and Penalties by OSHA It enforces the Act through: Inspections (scheduled or complaint-driven);
Citations; Civil and, in
some cases, criminal penalties
Workers also have the right to: Report hazards; Request an OSHA inspection;
Participate in
investigations; Be protected from retaliation for exercising these rights
State Occupational Safety Plans States may create their own OSHA-approved safety programs, but these must be
"at least as effective"
as federal standards. A state plan may cover: Private-sector workers; Public-
sector workers; Or only the
public sector, depending on the state
Workers' Compensation Laws Are enacted at the state level, meaning each state sets its own rules, governing
when employers must carry coverage, what benefits injured workers receive, and
how claims
are processed. Despite these differences, workers' compensation systems follow
the same core
principle:
Injured employees receive no-fault benefits in exchange for giving up their right
to sue their
employer.
ANSWERS
The Occupational Safety and Health Act is a landmark federal law enacted to ensure safe and
healthy working conditions for employees across the United States. It authorizes
the development and
enforcement of workplace safety and health standards and establishes the key
institutions responsible
for these protections.
Purpose of the OSHA Act To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women" by:
Setting mandatory occupational safety and health standards;
The Act is designed to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities by
placing responsibility on
employers to identify and eliminate hazards
Who Is Covered by the Act? Most private-sector employers and employees in all U.S. states and territories
• Coverage may be provided either directly by federal OSHA or by state OSHA-
approved plans
, Not covered under the OSHA Act: • Self-employed individuals; Family-run farms employing only immediate family;
Certain industries
regulated by other federal laws (e.g., mining, nuclear energy, some transportation
jobs)
• State and local government workers unless their state has an OSHA-approved
public-sector plan
Federal employees are covered through a separate statutory program requiring
federal agencies to
follow OSHA standards.
Major Requirements Under the OSHA Act employers must:
1. Provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or
serious harm
2. Comply with all OSHA safety and health standards
3. Ensure employees follow safety rules
Examples of hazards OSHA standards address include: Toxic chemical exposure;
Mechanical dangers;
Excessive noise; Heat/cold stress; Unsanitary condition
OSHA Standards are regulations that: Require specific protective measures, practices, or
equipment; Communicate chemical hazards via labeling, safety data sheets, and
training; Are based on scientific research and analysis
Enforcement and Penalties by OSHA It enforces the Act through: Inspections (scheduled or complaint-driven);
Citations; Civil and, in
some cases, criminal penalties
Workers also have the right to: Report hazards; Request an OSHA inspection;
Participate in
investigations; Be protected from retaliation for exercising these rights
State Occupational Safety Plans States may create their own OSHA-approved safety programs, but these must be
"at least as effective"
as federal standards. A state plan may cover: Private-sector workers; Public-
sector workers; Or only the
public sector, depending on the state
Workers' Compensation Laws Are enacted at the state level, meaning each state sets its own rules, governing
when employers must carry coverage, what benefits injured workers receive, and
how claims
are processed. Despite these differences, workers' compensation systems follow
the same core
principle:
Injured employees receive no-fault benefits in exchange for giving up their right
to sue their
employer.
