Final answer:
The General Duty Clause, also known as Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, requires employers to maintain a hazard-free workplace and follow OSHA standards. Employers must inform and protect workers from risks, and workers have the right to report safety concerns without retaliation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The blank in the question should be filled with the General Duty clause, also known as Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. This clause mandates that employers provide a workplace that does not have serious hazards, and they must follow all OSHA safety and health standards. OSHA's standards cover many aspects, such as providing fall protection, preventing exposure to infectious diseases and harmful chemicals, putting guards on dangerous machines, and offering training for hazardous jobs in a language that workers can understand. The act also emphasizes the right of workers to have a safe working environment free from recognized hazards that may cause death or serious physical harm.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers have the additional duty to inform workers about potential job hazards and to actively correct safety and health problems. Employers are required to seek out and mitigate hazards by altering work conditions before resorting to personal protective equipment. They must also inform workers of chemical hazards through various methods, such as training and labels.
OSHA's authority includes issuing regulations related to chemical exposure, personal protective equipment, and preventing physical dangers from operating machinery. Additionally, workers have rights under law that employers should not infringe upon, such as reporting work-related injuries or illnesses without facing retaliation.