Final answer:
The duty of care in an organization translates to ensuring employees' health and safety by following OSHA guidelines, providing a safe workplace, training employees, maintaining records of injuries and illnesses, supplying PPE, and sharing responsibility for temporary workers' safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of duty of care in an organization involves a range of responsibilities aimed at ensuring the health and safety of employees. Organizations must comply with health and safety regulations, which includes providing a safe workplace free of serious hazards, as mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This specifically involves employers being proactive in managing risks by making feasible changes in working conditions, such as switching to safer chemicals or using ventilation systems to eliminate or reduce hazards, rather than solely depending on personal protective equipment (PPE).
Additionally, the duty of care extends to include actions such as providing safety training in a language employees can understand, maintaining accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses, performing workplace tests required by OSHA standards, and providing necessary PPE at no cost to workers. Moreover, organizations must inform employees about potential hazards and provide training and tools to work safely. The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act also requires employers to keep the workplace free of serious recognized hazards.
When considering temporary workers, staffing agencies and host employers share joint accountability, ensuring compliance with workplace health and safety standards. Employers have a duty to provide clear communication regarding operational procedures, such as the pay schedule, benefits, safety requirements, and processes for reporting absence or sickness.