The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new version of its “Job Safety and Health – It’s The Law!” poster.
Background
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), employers have certain responsibilities, including the obligation to:
- Provide their employees with a safe workplace;
- Follow all relevant safety and health standards;
- Find and correct safety and health problems in the workplace; and
- Inform employees about workplace hazards.
Content of New Poster
The newly designed poster informs employers of their legal obligation to provide a safe workplace. It also 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.
Additionally, the poster 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.
Posting and Size Requirements
Employers must display the poster in a conspicuous place where workers can see it. Reproductions or facsimiles of the poster must be at least 8 1/2 by 14 inches with 10 point type. According to OSHA,previous versions of the poster do not need to be replaced.
Note: Employers in states operating OSHA-approved state plans should obtain and post the state’s equivalent poster.
The poster is available by clicking here. Multiple languages and resolutions are available for download.
To learn about other federal notices required to be displayed in the workplace, please visit our section on Federal Poster Requirements.
Jeffrey R. Ungvary President
