• OSHA ensures that employers take caution in the workplace seriously.caution image by Shannon Workman from Fotolia.com
  
  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created in 1970 to protect workers from working conditions that threaten serious harm or death. OSHA requires employers to limit contact with hazardous chemicals, provide proper safety equipment such as helmets and hearing protection when needed, and ensure all serious hazards are removed from the workplace.
  
  

Training

• In order to ensure all employers have the knowledge necessary to keep their workplace safe, the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education offers several training courses through OSHA Training Institute centers, located across the U.S. These courses are take by compliance officers, employers, and consultants. The OSHA Training Institute also offers courses in construction and general industry outreach, maritime industry outreach and disaster site worker outreach for employees.
  
  

Complaints

• Because OSHA guarantees employees the right to a safe workplace, one of OSHA's primary daily activities is following up on complaints by inspecting workplaces. Employees have the right file a workplace safety complaint, and are protected legally from retaliation against them for doing so. OSHA investigates each complaint, inspecting thousands of businesses and work sites a year across the U.S. OSHA staff may also inspect a workplace that has failed required air or water safety tests.
  
  

Enforcement

• In order to enforce workplace safety regulations, OSHA has the right to levy penalties in the form of fines to business owners who have put their employees at serious risk of injury or death. If a workplace is found to be significantly dangerous for employees during an inspection, OSHA will issue a citation, which may be a warning, or may have a fee imposed.