Final answer:
An exposure control plan under CAL-OSHA must cover strategies for reducing exposure to health hazards, with a focus on engineering changes over the use of personal protective equipment. It must also include employee training, recordkeeping, provision of necessary PPE, and compliance with OHSA mandates and OSHA standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under CAL-OSHA, an exposure control plan must comprehensively address how an employer will implement protective measures to eliminate or reduce worker exposures to health hazards. These measures prioritize engineering controls and work practice controls over personal protective equipment (PPE). By law, employers must provide a safe workplace without serious hazards. This requires ensuring that the environment is free from dangers that can be mitigated through improvements such as safer chemicals, process enclosures, or ventilation systems.
Additionally, employers have the following responsibilities:
- Train employees about chemical hazards and other workplace risks in a language they can understand.
- Maintain accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
- Conduct workplace tests like air sampling as required by OSHA standards.
- Provide and pay for necessary PPE.
- Offer medical tests as required by OSHA, including hearing exams.
- Display OSHA citations and injury and illness summaries in visible locations.
- Report serious incidents such as fatalities or hospitalizations to OSHA promptly.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) mandates these guidelines as a means to protect employees from diverse workplace hazards, with enforcement through inspections and implementation of health and safety standards.