Final answer:
Accident plans must address all hazards in the workplace as required by OHSA and OSHA standards, including providing safety training, keeping records of incidents, and adhering to specific safety measures to avoid legal and financial repercussions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Accident plans should indeed address every hazard in the workplace. This is in line with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), which mandates that employers must provide a safe workplace, actively identify and mitigate hazards, and inform employees of potential risks. Not only should hazard elimination and reduction be prioritized over merely providing personal protective equipment, but this approach also likens to the safety and health standards outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
OSHA requires employers to provide safety training, maintain accurate records of workplace-related injuries and illnesses, and comply with additional reporting requirements such as notifying OSHA of work-related fatalities within eight hours. Importantly, these standards include preventative measures like fall protection, the prevention of trenching cave-ins, and the safe management of harmful chemicals. The adherence to these regulations is not only a legal mandate but can also avert the potentially catastrophic consequences for worker safety and the financial health of the business, as was starkly illustrated by significant historical events like the Firestone/Ford tire controversy.
The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act works as a catch-all, requiring workplaces to be free of serious recognized hazards even when specific standards do not apply. Enforcement is done through strict inspections without advance notice and prioritizes immediate dangers. In the event of non-compliance, businesses are subject to penalties, enhancing OSHA's role in the reduction of workplace injuries and illnesses.