Manufacturing health regulations set by Occupational Safety and Health

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also called OSHA, is a governmental agency that gives guidelines for companies to follow so that they can provide their employees with a safe and healthy work environment. OSHA puts numerous guidelines into place for the manufacturing industry and these regulations can change, not to mention that they are constantly being updated. As a responsible business owner, it will be up to you to look at every regulation that OSHA has put into place for your industry.

Keep in mind that when OSHA sets regulations for the manufacturing industry they are also setting regulations for the different manufacturing business. For example, OSHA will have one set of regulations for paper manufacturers and there are other regulations for food manufacturers. Moreover, while OSHA will have separate regulations for specific manufacturing divisions there are some general regulations that OSHA has put in place for all manufacturing businesses.

Here is a look at some of the general regulations that OSHA has in place for manufacturing industries.

Number one: Housekeeping
All places of employment, including offices and storerooms will be kept clean and in sanitary condition. All floors in the work environment will be kept clean, and as much as possible will be kept dry. If you use wet processes, you will need to make sure there is proper drainage for the water and that are dry places for people to stand when practicable. All aisles and passageways that are permanent will be appropriately marked.

Number two: Employee emergency plans
This action plan should address all emergencies that the employer can reasonable expect to have in the workplace. For example, fire, blizzards, floods, toxic chemical releases, etc. The emergency plan should include in detail the procedures to be taken in an emergency including exit routes and where to go during an evacuation. It should also include detailed instructions for the employees who are elected to stay behind to tend to essential plant operations until their evacuation becomes necessary. Floor plans or workplace maps that show the emergency escape routes should be included in the action plan, along with rescue and medical first aid duties that are to be performed and by whom.

Number three: Ventilation
Employees need to have clean air, which is defined as air of such purity that it will not cause harm or discomfort to an individual if it is breathed for a long period. If there are particles in the air due to working conditions, such as blasting employees must be provided with the proper safety equipment to remove the particles from the air, such as a facemask or a dust collector, which is a device that separates the dust from the air. Certain places of employment must use an exhaust ventilation system to remove contaminated air from a space.

Number four: Occupational noise exposure
Companies must provide protection against the effects of noise exposure when the sound levels exceed a certain point. Employers must also meet certain requirements for providing a hearing conservation program if the employee noise exposure equals or exceeds a certain period, such as eight hours at a certain level.

The goal of OSHA is for every manufacturing business to have a safe, clean and health workplace so that the companies can higher quality workers. If your business decides not to comply with the OSHA's manufacturing regulations you can face heavy fines or even face the possibility of your business being closed. The best way to avoid this unpleasantness is to stay informed on the manufacturing regulations that are set by OSHA. To do this all you have to do is visit their website at www.osha.gov and search for the manufacturing regulations that are related to the specific products that you manufacture.