Is Your Small Business Meeting These 4 OSHA Requirements?

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides regulations that will help reduce the risk of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in your company. These guidelines aren’t just the law, but they’re also good for business. They help increase productivity because your employees will be less likely to miss work due to illness or injury; they keep costs low because accidents can be expensive, and they increase employee morale because your team will know they’re safe at work.

There are hundreds of safety laws that may apply to your small business, but OSHA can help you stay compliant, so you don’t have to guess which ones apply. If you’re building a safety program, consider starting with these four OSHA requirements because they apply to most small businesses and are often easy to implement.

1. Maintain safety records

Most small businesses with at least 11 employees are required to maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses. You can use OSHA Form 300: Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses to help make the recordkeeping easier.

If you have fewer than 11 employees, OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics will typically tell you if you’re required to keep records of worksite accidents. Even if you’re not required by law, your workers’ compensation insurance company may still want you to keep thorough records.

2. Display OSHA poster

Employers are required to display the “OSHA Job Safety & Health: It’s the Law” poster in an obvious location where all employees and job candidates can see it. The document lets your employees know what their rights are under OSHA regulations.

3. Create an emergency action plan

An emergency action plan can ensure that your employees are prepared if an emergency takes place. Your plan should include actions that should be taken in various situations, including fires, floods, active shootings, and other events that may cause a major disruption in your business. You can assign specific roles to each of your team members so there’s no confusion about what needs to be taken care of.

Learn more about creating an emergency action plan for your small business.

4. Build a first aid kit

Make sure you’re prepared for an unexpected injury by building a first aid kit and keeping it in a convenient location where all your employees have easy access to it. When you’re building your kit, include:

  • small and large gauze pads
  • adhesive bandages
  • gauze roller bandages
  • triangular bandages
  • wound cleaner
  • scissors
  • blankets
  • adhesive tape
  • latex gloves
  • resuscitation equipment
  • elastic wraps
  • splints
  • clear instructions for seeking medical help

If you take advantage of OSHA’s free on-site consultation, they’ll make sure you have the appropriate items and correct number of each item in your kit.

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