Disclaimer
This eCAT is not a new standard or regulation, and creates no new legal obligations. The eCAT
is advisory in nature, informational in content, and is intended to assist employers in
providing a safe and healthful workplace through effective prevention programs adapted to the
needs of each place of employment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to comply with hazard-specific
safety and health standards. In addition, employers must provide their employees with a
workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm under
Section 5(a)(1), the General Duty Clause of the Act. Employers can be cited for violating the
General Duty Clause if there is a recognized hazard and they do not take steps to prevent or
abate the hazard. However, failure to implement these guidelines is not, in itself, a violation
of the General Duty Clause. Citations can only be based on standards, regulations, and the
General Duty Clause.
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