Final answer:
OSHA's mission centers on ensuring a safe workplace by enforcing safety and health standards and providing related training and assistance. Employers have specific responsibilities to mitigate hazards and protect employees, who have the right to a safe work environment and to report concerns without fear of retaliation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding OSHA's Role in Workplace Safety
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) mission is to ensure that employers provide a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. This is achieved through enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.
Employers are responsible for providing a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and following all OSHA safety and health standards. They must also inform and train employees about chemical hazards and cannot retaliate against employees for exercising their rights under the law, such as reporting injuries or illnesses.
OSHA requires that employers attempt to mitigate hazards through safer working conditions before relying on personal protective equipment.
Employers must also maintain accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses, provide necessary safety equipment at no cost, and allow workers to participate in inspections. The right to a safe and healthful workplace is a cornerstone of OSHA regulations, which cover numerous industries and hazards, aiming to protect workers from physical harm on the job.