Both in the private and public sectors, the Occupational Safety and Health Act works to protect both employees and employers. Occupational Safety and Health Administration training can help to prevent many injuries and accidents. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA guidelines and regulations are in place to maintain the safety and health conditions of workplaces in the United States. When these requirements are not observed properly, it can lead to serious consequences. Let’s take a look at what can happen in the absence of proper OSHA training.
Workplace Injuries
It is your responsibility as the employer to provide your employees with the training necessary to keep them safe. OSHA training isn’t just to fulfill a requirement for the government or to stay in compliance, it’s literally intended to protect your workers. When workers are hurt on the job there can be far-reaching consequences. You want to avoid this by making sure all OSHA training is done properly.
Non-Compliance Penalties
When workplaces are not in compliance with OSHA training and regulations, complaints can be filed against that employer. These are often done by employees who feel they are in an unsafe work environment. When you are found to be out of compliance, there can be stiff penalties. You could face fines or even the shutdown of your operation. This is often done to give a workplace the opportunity to get in compliance.
Liability Cases
Another very serious consequence of not following OSHA training guidelines is that you might face a liability case. Liability cases can happen when employees are injured as a result of a lack of training and the employer or workplace doesn’t handle the injury properly. This can have a very long-lasting effect on your company’s reputation.
You might have to go to court to face any allegations made against your company. At best, it’ll cost you money but at worst, it’ll cost you the company. Legal fees will be your responsibility whether you win the case or not. You can avoid all of these headaches by always taking OSHA training very seriously.
Facing issues like the ones mentioned above can really affect your reputation in your community. You want to be known as a business and as an employer that cares about the safety of their employees and the well-being of everyone. Ignoring OSHA training shows the opposite of this. Educating yourself about OSHA is the first step to compliance. Always follow OSHA training regulations to stay in compliance with OSHA guidelines and to protect your employees’ safety.
