Final answer:
A competent person under OSHA is someone who can identify and correct hazardous conditions at work. Employers are responsible for providing a safe workplace and complying with OSHA standards, including training, protective equipment, and keeping safety records. Workers have the right to file complaints about workplace hazards or OSHA standard violations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A competent person according to OSHA standards is one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards which may be unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees. This person also has the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to remove these hazards. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), employers have a responsibility to create a safe workplace without serious hazards and to abide by all OSHA safety and health standards. This includes efforts to eliminate or reduce hazards by changing working conditions and providing necessary training and protective equipment.
Employers are tasked with informing workers about chemical hazards, providing safety training, performing necessary tests like air sampling, providing personal protective equipment, and keeping accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses. Employers must comply with specific OSHA standards such as providing fall protection, preventing trenching cave-ins, and ensuring the safety of workers in confined spaces.
OSHA, established by Congress and part of the United States Department of Labor, has a mission to assure safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards, as well as providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. It's important for workers to know that they have the right to file a complaint if they believe there is a serious hazard or a breach of OSHA standards at their workplace.