OSHA and Workplace Safety
8 hrs
Fatality Reporting
Must report within 8 hours
24 hrs
Hospitalization
Must report within 24 hours
4
Inspection Priorities
Imminent danger then fatalities then complaints then programmed
The General Duty Clause
Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act requires each employer to furnish a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. The General Duty Clause applies even when NO specific OSHA standard exists.
If a workplace hazard is not covered by any published OSHA standard, the employer is still liable under Section 5(a)(1) if the hazard is recognized and likely to cause serious harm. This is what makes it the exam favorite.
Reporting and Recordkeeping
8 Hours
Fatality Reporting
Any workplace fatality must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours of learning about it
24 Hours
Hospitalization Reporting
Inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours
OSHA 300 Log
Employers with 10+ employees must maintain a log of work-related injuries and illnesses on OSHA Form 300. The summary (Form 300A) must be posted from February 1 through April 30 each year.
Inspection Priority Order
Imminent Danger
Immediate risk of death or serious harm
Fatalities and Catastrophes
Deaths or hospitalizations of 3+ workers
Employee Complaints
Formal complaints or referrals
Programmed Inspections
Routine inspections targeting high-hazard industries
can you get the reporting timelines right?
OSHA practice questions covering the General Duty Clause, reporting rules, and inspection priorities
Practice OSHA QuestionsExam Traps
8 hours for fatality, 24 hours for hospitalization
A workplace fatality must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours. An inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours. The exam will swap these numbers or present a scenario where the employer delays. Know the deadlines cold.
The General Duty Clause applies without a specific standard
Even when no specific OSHA regulation covers a particular hazard, the General Duty Clause requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. It is the catch-all. The exam tests whether you know it exists and when it applies.
Employees can refuse dangerous work
Under OSHA, employees may refuse to perform work if they have a reasonable belief that the task poses an imminent danger of death or serious injury, and there is not enough time to go through normal channels. The employer cannot retaliate. The exam presents retaliation scenarios.
Reporting Deadlines
8 hours for death. 24 hours for hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss. No exceptions.
General Duty Clause
Section 5(a)(1). The safety catch-all. Applies even when no specific OSHA standard exists for that hazard.
OSHA is like the fire code for workplaces. It writes the rules about exits, alarms, fire extinguishers, and sprinklers. Employers must follow these specific rules.
But what about hazards the fire code did not anticipate? Maybe the school stores chemicals in an unusual way. The General Duty Clause says "keep the building safe even for hazards we did not write a specific rule about." It is the catch-all.
The fire inspector has priorities. An active fire comes first (imminent danger). A building where someone died comes second (fatality). A complaint from a teacher comes third. A random annual inspection comes last. OSHA inspections follow the same priority.
If someone dies in the building, the school calls the fire marshal within 8 hours. If someone is sent to the hospital, they call within 24 hours. Waiting longer is a violation.
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