As a business owner, the Amazon Warehouse accident last December in Edwardsville, Illinois, may have triggered you to think about the importance of workplace safety. If you are unfamiliar with what happened in Edwardsville, a portion of the 1.1 million-square-foot Amazon warehouse collapsed when a tornado passed through the area. Six Amazon employees lost their lives, and OSHA has since opened an investigation into workplace safety violations at the facility. In this blog post, the experts at HR Anew will discuss the benefits of OSHA and why the organization is good for business.

 

What is OSHA?

Let’s begin by defining what OSHA is as an organization. OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Their primary role is to carry out the Occupational Safety and Health Act Congress passed in 1970. In other words, the main goal of OSHA is to ensure that every working man and woman in the United States is protected with safe and healthful working conditions. OSHA protects all employees in our country except for self-employed or work for state and local governments. 

The Employers’ Responsibility

Like all federal regulations, OSHA comes with rules that businesses must follow. The purpose of these rules is to keep jobs and workplaces free of hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm. Examples of employer responsibilities include:

 

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when necessary
• OSHA Training
• Thorough record-keeping of work-related accidents 
• Report workplace accidents within eight hours
• Provide appropriate medical assistance to employees when needed

 

Why OSHA is Good for Business

Business owners need to ensure that their workplace is safe and healthy. In addition to recruiting the best possible employees, a safe and healthy work environment is essential to retain your workforce. A business that complies with OSHA certifications sends the message that they are committed to safety. Plus, if an organization violates an OSHA regulation, it can face astronomical monetary penalties.

 

Next Steps

OSHA is now opening an investigation into the Amazon Warehouse collapse to ensure that all employees were provided a safe workplace environment. It’s vital as a business owner that you regularly meet with your executive team to ensure that you are not violating any OSHA regulations.

 

If you have additional questions about how OSHA regulations can affect your business, we invite you to connect with us for a complimentary business continuity assessment for your company.

 

About Deborah Stallings and HR Anew

Deborah Stallings, MA, SHRM-SCP is the President and Chief Executive Officer of HR Anew, Inc., a national human resource management, equal employment opportunity, and education and training professional services firm. The company helps businesses and organizations to achieve strategic goals, grow, scale, hire and retain the right people, enhance employee performance and productivity, save money, and give you back time. Share your feedback or schedule a meeting with Deborah.