Final answer:
Employees have the right to request OSHA inspections, accompany inspectors,
apply for variances from safety standards, and receive workplace health and safety training.
Retaliation from employers for exercising these rights is prohibited.
OSHA mandates employers to ensure safety through various means like providing personal protective equipment and safety training.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), employees have a wide range of rights designed to ensure their safety and health in the workplace.
These rights include the ability to request OSHA inspections if they believe there are serious hazards or violations of standards, and to accompany the OSHA compliance officer during inspections. Moreover, employees can apply for a temporary variance from certain safety standards if necessary, under specific conditions.
Critically, workers are entitled to receive training and information on various workplace health and safety standards to better understand the risks and protections available to them.
Employees also have the right to participate in an OSHA inspection and to speak in private with the inspector. In addition to these rights, it is illegal for employers to retaliate or discriminate against employees for exercising their rights under OSHA, including the right to report injuries or illnesses and to request an inspection. Workers who experience such retaliation may file a complaint with OSHA.
Employers are accordingly obligated to adhere to OSHA safety and health standards, which include measures such as providing adequate personal protective equipment, keeping accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses, and informing workers of potential chemical hazards through effective communication and training.