What is OSHA's General Duty Clause?

The General Duty Clause, part of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), requires employers to maintain a workplace that is free from serious recognized hazards. This means that employers must take proactive steps to identify and mitigate risks that could potentially harm employees. The obligation is built on the notion that while specific hazards may not be covered by existing regulations, there is still an overarching responsibility to protect workers from known dangers.

This principle emphasizes the importance of a safe work environment and serves as a foundational element in safety compliance, pushing employers to be vigilant and to implement safety measures that go beyond merely adhering to established safety regulations. In this context, other options like providing jobs, ensuring training, or conducting safety drills, while important, do not encapsulate the comprehensive obligation laid out by the General Duty Clause regarding workplace safety.