What does OSHA's general duty clause require?

What does OSHA's general duty clause require?

• A. Employers must comply with every specific OSHA standard without exception.
• B. Employers must provide PPE to all workers at all times.
• C. Employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause harm to employees.
• D. Employers must report all incidents to OSHA within 8 hours.

Answer: (C)

OSHA's general duty clause says employers must keep the workplace free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. This broad obligation acts as a safety baseline, covering hazards that aren’t specifically addressed by a particular OSHA standard. It means you should identify potential hazards, implement appropriate controls, train workers, and correct unsafe conditions even when there isn’t a dedicated standard for that hazard. PPE requirements or incident reporting can come from specific standards, but they aren’t the general duty clause itself.

OSHA's general duty clause says employers must keep the workplace free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. This broad obligation acts as a safety baseline, covering hazards that aren’t specifically addressed by a particular OSHA standard. It means you should identify potential hazards, implement appropriate controls, train workers, and correct unsafe conditions even when there isn’t a dedicated standard for that hazard. PPE requirements or incident reporting can come from specific standards, but they aren’t the general duty clause itself.