Final answer:
OSHA requires that when working under sidewalks and pavement, there must be an appropriately designed support system to prevent collapses, highlighting the administration's dedication to ensuring worker safety and the importance of hazard prevention.
Step-by-step explanation:
OSHA Standards for Excavations
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set forth rigorous safety standards to protect workers engaged in excavation activities, one of which includes precautions when working under sidewalks and pavement. Employers are required to deploy an appropriately designed support system or implement an effective method to prevent collapses when performing such excavations.
The regulations devised by OSHA encompass a wide array of protective measures that range from fall protection and trenching cave-in prevention to the safeguarding against infectious diseases, harmful chemical exposure, and ensuring overall machinery and workplace safety.
Compliance with these standards is not only a legal obligation but a practical necessity to maintain a safe working environment. Should these standards be violated, or if employees believe their safety is compromised, they have the right to request an OSHA inspection. The comprehensive nature of these regulations signifies OSHA's commitment to worker safety and the emphasis on proactive hazard elimination over reliance on personal protective equipment where possible.