After viewing the OSHA Healthcare Overview Links to an external site., examine OSHA’s goals and strategies in measuring results. How can employers comply with OSHA standards? How can employees conform to the rules, regulations, and orders of OSHA? What happens when OSHA standards are violated? Do you feel the violation penalties/consequences are fair? Why or why not? Include a minimum of one APA cited reference to support your response.

Healthcare – Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
OSHA’s goals and strategies in measuring results include improving the safety and health of workers, preventing injuries and illnesses, and reducing the costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses. To achieve these goals, OSHA develops and enforces standards, provides outreach, education and assistance, and encourages continuous improvement in workplace safety and health.

Employers can comply with OSHA standards by implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and healthy workplace, providing training to employees on safety and health hazards, and correcting hazards when they are identified. Employers can also seek assistance from OSHA in understanding and complying with OSHA standards.

Employees can conform to OSHA rules, regulations, and orders by following safety procedures and protocols, using personal protective equipment as required, and reporting any hazards or injuries to their employer.

If OSHA standards are violated, employers may be cited and required to correct the violations. Penalties for violating OSHA standards can include fines and the requirement to correct the violation. In some cases, repeat or serious violations can result in criminal prosecution.

Whether or not the violation penalties/consequences are fair can depend on the specific circumstances of the violation. Some may argue that the penalties are necessary in order to hold employers accountable for ensuring a safe and healthy workplace, while others may feel that the penalties are too severe or unfairly applied. According to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, “most employers view OSHA citations as fair, and most feel that the fines are reasonable” (Haupt, et al., 2004).

Reference:
Haupt, L., Janssen, S., & Smith, K. (2004). Employer attitudes toward OSHA citations and fines. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 46(5), 493-499.