Final answer:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) needs subject-specific information to develop effective regulations to protect workers from health and safety hazards in the workplace. The development of OSHA standards involves a lengthy process with substantial public engagement, including public notice and comments. OSHA is empowered to enforce these standards and ensure workplace compliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to develop regulations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires detailed, subject-specific information. This meticulous process is necessary to ensure that the regulations OSHA creates are effective in protecting workers from health and safety hazards in the workplace. OSHA's authority to promulgate standards that prescribe methods employers must follow comes from the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
To issue a new standard, OSHA engages in a comprehensive process that includes public notice, comments, and demonstrating that there is a significant risk to workers and feasible measures that employers can implement for protection.
OSHA was initially allowed to adopt regulations based on existing guidelines from reputable standards organizations, bypassing the full rulemaking requirements. However, typically, the creation of an OSHA standard is a long process involving substantial public engagement. OSHA enforces these standards through inspections and assessments, and non-compliance can result in fines. The standards cover a vast array of workplace hazards, ranging from chemical exposure to the requirement of personal protective equipment and the prevention of falls.