Regulated or not, all hazards need to be addressed

OSHA requires that all hazards be addressed, whether or not they are regulated.

Compliance with codes and regulations is an important part of an effective safety and health program. Though compliance with law is a good motive for having effective safety and health management, OSHA found that successful programs look beyond just compliance and searching out other sources for hazard information such as:

• National Electrical Code (NEC)
• American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Whether hazards are regulated by government standards, or not regulated, the Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines address all hazards in the workplace. A safety and health management program needs to address all work-related hazards in order to be effective, and should include any potential hazards that could result from changes in worksite practices and conditions. Each worksite will vary, as will the nature of the hazards, therefore, the safety and health program elements and actions will vary according to the nature of each specific site in regards to what is needed for safety and health protection.

Tags: OSHA regulated hazards, unregulated hazards, hazard communication