Understanding the Nuances of OSHA’s General Duty Clause

The general duty clause within the OSHA Act of 1970 serves as a basic requirement for all employers to maintain a safe working environment. This clause has also created some compliance issues for employers because of the simple wording and lack of general guidelines or process.

"The reason compliance with the general duty clause is very challenging is because it doesn't tell employees on the front end what they need to look out for specifically and what they need to do to comply with OSHA and its safety and health laws and rules," said Labor and Employment Partner Howard Sokol.

READ: Understanding the Nuances of OSHA's General Duty Clause (subscription is required)