Workplace Free from Recognized Hazards
We already discussed your right to receive training from your employer on a variety of health and safety hazards and standards, such as chemical right to know, fall protection, confined spaces and personal protective equipment.
For additional training information, click here to access Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines.
Many OSHA standards specifically require the employer to train workers in the safety and health aspects of their jobs. Other OSHA standards make it the employee's responsibility to limit certain job assignments to those who are "certified," "competent," or "qualified"-meaning that they have had special previous training, in or out of the workplace.
OSHA believes training is an essential part of protecting workers from injuries and illnesses.
In December 2025, an Oregon OSHA inspection at a manufacturing facility identified multiple serious workplace safety hazards involving material storage systems and machinery. Inspectors found that industrial storage racks used to hold heavy raw materials were improperly installed and poorly maintained. Several baseplates were not anchored to the floor, some were damaged, and others were installed incorrectly. Despite these conditions, heavy materials were stored at height, and employees accessed them manually and with forklifts.
These conditions exposed workers to significant struck-by and crushing hazards, as unsecured materials could shift or fall and seriously injure employees below. In addition to the storage hazards, inspectors also identified a belt sander with unguarded moving parts, creating a clear risk of hand or finger injuries. No injuries or fatalities were reported at the time of the inspection. However, Oregon OSHA determined that the hazards presented a realistic and foreseeable risk of serious injury or death if left uncorrected.
The investigation concluded that the employer was aware of the unsafe storage rack conditions and failed to take corrective action. As a result, Oregon OSHA cited the employer for a willful violation related to the storage system hazards, meaning the company knowingly allowed a dangerous condition to persist. A second violation was issued for the unguarded machine. The employer was ordered to correct the hazards and was assessed a total fine of $28,478.
This case highlights the importance of hazard identification, reporting, and follow-through in preventing serious workplace incidents:
- Unsafe storage systems and structural deficiencies must be reported, evaluated, and corrected immediately, especially when heavy materials are involved.
- Hazards that do not cause immediate injury should not be minimized or ignored; near-miss conditions often precede serious incidents.
- Employees and supervisors must be trained to recognize struck-by, crushing, and machine-entanglement hazards and understand when equipment is unsafe to use.
- Known hazards must be documented and escalated, and corrective actions must be tracked to completion.
- Proactive inspections and early reporting create a feedback loop that allows hazards to be addressed before enforcement actions — or injuries — occur.
Consistent reporting and prompt corrective action are essential to maintaining a safe workplace and preventing known hazards from escalating into serious injuries, fatalities, or regulatory penalties.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-2. OSHA standards make it the employer's responsibility to limit certain job assignments to those who are "certified," "competent," or "qualified" - meaning that they _____.
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