5,501: Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Last Revised: March 2011
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970 prescribes certain regulations regarding occupational safety and health including the reporting and recording of industrial accidents and illnesses. The purpose of the act is to require employers to provide a safe and healthful place to work. All unsafe acts and unsafe conditions must be reported to Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) so that the situation can be addressed. Any accident occurring in the course of employment which is fatal to one or more employees or which results in the hospitalization of three or more employees must be reported by the employer orally or in writing to the nearest Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, within eight hours after the accident has occurred.
The Director of EH&S is responsible for coordinating occupational safety and health programs, monitoring compliance with OSHA standards, and coordinating on-site OSHA compliance inspections. In the event of an inspection by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, the department must notify the Director of EH&S immediately. The University has established Safety Committees (Section 5,404) which serve as an advisory body to the President and reports to the Executive Vice President & Provost and the Vice President for Research.