Final answer:
The employer is responsible for making a worksite without a section of railing in a stairwell safe by providing appropriate fall protection and ensuring a hazard-free environment in compliance with OSHA standards. Recommendations for the state of New York to ensure worker safety include strict compliance with safety standards, regular inspections, emergency evacuation procedures, and workplace hazard education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The responsibility to make a worksite free from fall hazards, such as a missing section of railing in a stairwell, falls to the employer. It is the employer's duty to provide a workplace that does not have serious hazards according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and to comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act. This involves providing appropriate fall protection like guardrails and ensuring that the workplace is free of serious recognized hazards.
In reference to historical events such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, it becomes evident that adequate egress options and safety measures are crucial. To prevent similar tragedies, I would recommend the state of New York enforce strict compliance with safety standards, conduct regular inspections, and require that emergency evacuation procedures are in place and clearly communicated to all workers.
Additionally, to ensure worker safety in the future, employers should be encouraged to make changes in working conditions to eliminate hazards, like creating safe walkways free from obstructions and securing infrastructure, before relying on personal protective equipment. Training workers about potential hazards, proper equipment use, and emergency procedures in a language they can understand is also imperative for a safe work environment.