Businesses and work sites are subject to periodic OSHA inspections, and employee safety complaints can also trigger OSHA inspections. These inspections may detect violations of OSHA codes that range from minor to extremely hazardous. There are six specific categories of OSHA violations, each of which carries either a recommended or a mandatory penalty. De Minimis Violations A de minimis violation is a technical violation of OSHA rules that have no direct impact on health or safety. It is the least serious class of violation, and OSHA inspectors do not levy fines or issue citations for these violations. Inspectors verbally inform employers about de minimis violations and list them on the employer's case inspection file. A ladder with 13 inches between rungs rather than 12 inches is an example of a de minimis violation. Other-than-Serious Violations A violation of OSHA rules that would not usually cause death or serious injury but that is nevertheless related to job safety or employee health is considered an other-than-serious violation. The maximum penalty for each such violation is $7,000. However, inspectors can choose not to levy a fine, or to reduce the penalty by as much as 95 percent. Inspectors make decisions about penalties based on factors such as the size of the business and the cooperativeness of its owner. Failure to provide copies of safety regulations and failure to post required documentation in work areas are considered other-than-serious OSHA violations. Serious Violations When an employer knows of or should know of a situation that has a definite chance of causing serious injury or death, but does not remedy it, OSHA issues a serious violation. Inspectors must assess a penalty of up to $7,000 for each serious violation, but they can adjust penalties based upon the seriousness of each particular violation, as well as the employer's previous history, the size of the business, and the good faith of the employer. Failure to ensure that employees who carry heavy loads wear steel-toe boots is an example of a serious violation. Willful Violations The most serious violation category is willful violations, and it is reserved for intentional violations of OSHA rules or situations that show disregard for employee health and safety. The minimum penalty for each willful violation is $5,000 and the maximum fine is $70,000. If an employee is killed, the violation becomes a criminal offense with a minimum fine of $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a corporation. An individual who is convicted of a fatal willful violation can also be imprisoned for up to six months. An example of a serious violation might involve a fatal crushing accident because the employer did not implement adequate safety procedures for equipment that had caused prior crushing injuries. Repeated Violation If an employer is cited for a particular violation, and a subsequent inspection reveals another identical or very similar violation, OSHA inspectors may cite the employer for a repeated violation. The maximum fine for a repeated violation is $70,000. However, if the employer contests the original violation and is awaiting a final OSHA decision, inspectors cannot consider a violation of the same type to be a repeated violation. Failure to Abate Prior Violation When an employer receives a violation citation, the citation includes a date by which the employer must remedy the situation. If the employer does not do so on or before the specified date, it may be liable for a fine of $7,000 per day from the day after the specified date until it remedies the condition.

Q: How do you think the OSHA REQUIREMENTA APPLY TO OFFICE WORK SETTINGS? Ans: Occupational and Safety Health are overseen of the safety laws for all types of businesses which were as follows: Regulations on walking/working surfaces, Means of egress (exiting), which include emergency, evacuation plans, Occupational noise exposure, Hazardous handling of materials, Protective equipment such as eye, face and respiratory protection, Sanitation. etc. However the HR. professionals and managers should have a good understanding of these laws and make sure that all these standards are followed in the workplace and these standards are part of the overall strategic HRM. plan of any organization and keeping the records to see how its business is meeting safety standards compared with other businesses and then follow the OSHA decision tree which was called OSHA reporting form 300 to report the incident/report. OSHA requirements is dully apply to office work settings because unsafe work place is bad for employee and of business too. Workplace safety is the responsibility of everyone in the organization when we look deeply into incident/accident that as been occurred in the organization base no the report recent data available presently the fatalities is 4,340 an the rate of injuries were 3.3 million. and the cost is not only for the employees well-being but also financial and time costs to the company. The "OSHA" are concerned to make or enforce the organization's to carry out their mission to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting standards and by providing training, out reach, education, and assistance. OSHA offers ten and thirty hour courses on workplace hazards an also provides assistance to ensure companies are in compliance with standards been part of the US department f labor secretary, who is a member of the presidents cabinet, they are the main administrator being the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety ad health. OSHA have set a standard violation which were among are 1926.451-Scaffolding, 1926.501 - Fall protection, 1910.1200- Hazard communication, 1910.134 - Respiratory protection, 1926.1053 - Ladders. etc.. These standards were apply to companies in production, manufacturing, construction and even companies with primarily am office function are to abide by the laws set by OSHA. However in a nutshell, the OSHA requirements were also applied to office work settings.

Q: Research the internet for resent OSHA violations and write two paragraphs describing one. Ans: 1910.1200 The occupational safety and health standard is intended to address comprehensively the issue of classifying the potential hazards of chemicals, and communicating information concerning hazards and appropriate protective measures to employees, and to preempt any legislative or regulatory enactments of a state, or political subdivision of a state, pertaining to this subject. Classifying the potential hazards of chemicals and communicating information concerning hazards and appropriate protective measures to employees, for example, the provisions for: developing and maintaining a written hazard communication program for the workplace, including lists of hazardous chemicals present; labeling of containers of chemicals in the workplace, as well as of containers of chemicals being shipped to other workplaces; preparation and distribution of safety data sheets to employees and downstream employers; and development and implementation of employee training programs regarding hazards of chemicals and protective measures. Under section 18 of the Act, no state or political subdivision of a state may adopt or enforce any requirement relating to the issue addressed by this Federal standard, except pursuant to a Federally-approved state plan. However to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are classified, and that information concerning the classified hazards is transmitted to employers and employees, and to this is to be consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The transmittal of information is to be accomplished by means of comprehensive hazard communication programs, which are to include container labeling and other forms of warning, safety data sheets and employee training.

Q: Research possible strategies to reduce OSHA violations and write a paragraphs on at least two methods. Ans: In hazard communication, the employers needs to create a compliant Hazard Communication program which include enough information in written programs and provide proper training for employees, while in Electrical, Wiring Methods, Components and Equipment to comply with this standard and to keep workers safe, enclosures, raceways, cable trays, fittings and other non-conductors made from metal used for grounding must be properly bonded to be able to handle potential fault currents.

OSHA-ACT was one of the prominent acts passed by the US-CONGRESS, which ensures that each and every Employer primary responsibility is provide Safety working conditions inside the workplace, each and every employer has to follow and implement the Osha-act guideliness, and morover safety-training must be strictly implemented and safety devices usuage must be also done perodically. and a proper safety committee has to be constituted which moniters the average incident rates inside the establishments, and fines and strict actions and penalities should be also done on the employers violating the rules and regulations on safety as mentioned under the OSHA-ACT.

OSHA acts also applied to work office because there are alot hazard in the office that can cause damage or even kills. i have heard an employee slumped while using computer.

in NOVEMBER 2015 THE CONGRESS ORDERED THE AGENCIES TO REVIEWED THEIR PENALTIES. the OSHA NEW PENALTIES WAS ADJUSTED BUT TOOK EFFECTS IN AUGUST 2, 2016. MAXIMUM FINE WAS INCREASE FROM $7000 TO $12,471 PER VIOLATION.

Gateway Extrusions Ltd. allegedly exposed workers to amputation and other serious hazards while operating presses at the company's aluminum parts manufacturing facility in Union, Mo. OSHA cited the company with one repeat and eight serious safety and health violations and issued penalties of $63,000. An inspection found that two operating machines lacked proper safety mechanisms. The company was cited for a similar violation in 2013, as the company failed to implement lockout/tagout procedures and inadequately guarded the point-of-operation of some operating machines, such as press brakes. It is clear that many companies already has a history of violations in the past, they received the fines and at the same time dispute them to reduce costs, training is provided by the organization to avoid and reduce these type of incidents. Sadly large companies only have eyes and ears for their annual income, thus ignoring situations and actions that can ultimately harm the company in a permanent way, creating a negative image of their brand to the consumers and workers. The importance to succeed in any company no matter the industry, is to always keep your employees (assets to the company) , in a safe and reliable work environment thus ensuring the companies growth.

To reduce mining accidents, whenever a tremor occurs workers should immediately evacuate and should not be allowed to work until an expert has properly evaluated the site, to check on the stability of the mine walls and determine if its secure or not to allow the miners to continue. another method is to have 24/7 surveillance on explosives used during the operation to keep such materials under intensive monitoring of the conditions, temperature and location of such, to reduce exposure to the workers on site.