OSHAs are a set of standards promoted primarily by the President of the United States, Richard Nixon (R) in 1970. By then, the death rate and workplace accidents were extremely high in companies.
On December 29, 1970, the OSH Law (Occupational Safety and Health Law) was signed. And it was not until April 28, 1971, when it finally took effect in the country.
If you were wondering what OSHA means, according to its acronym in English, ‘Occupational Safety and Health Administration’ in Spanish translates to ‘Occupational Safety and Health Administration’.
It is worth noting that although the term OSHA is primarily related to standards, OSHA itself is a government agency under the United States Department of Labor.
Currently, this agency has more than 3,000 inspectors and 600 state advisers in more than 140 offices throughout the national territory, thus protecting more than 130 million workers in more than 8 million companies.
What are OSHA standards for?
OSHA standards are responsible for ensuring the welfare and safety in general of workers, however, one of its main approaches is to be careful against possible electrical failures that can harm employees.
In this way, OSHA has three stages of regulation : The care and observation of electrical installations, the application and handling that can be given to electrical equipment at work and maintenance, as well as the use of safety material.
Throughout these years with OSHA standards, more than 600 thousand people say they have been saved thanks to this mandatory regulation in companies. That is why its importance is validated, and supported by thousands of North Americans in the country.
For the public or private sector? A very important question with a simple answer: Although the OSHA standards were created primarily for private companies, it is important to know that there are certain offices authorized by OSHA, for the control of public bodies.
OSHA safety colors
Being clear about what osha is and what its function is, let’s continue to know what are the osha safety colors. Knowing the OSHA color guide allows you to understand a large amount of information present in companies, and that you probably did not know or simply did not give importance until now.
Let’s start with the colors black and white , these indicate traffic zones, spaces that must be free, and stairs. The color blue is useful to denote systems that can be started, such as ovens, elevators, as well as equipment under repair.
Radiation is indicated by the color purple , which can also be accompanied by certain details or letters in orange or red.
For its part, the green color denotes first aid instruments, such as first aid kits, or signs of escape routes. The yellow color is especially indicated for objects that are not moving but can cause some damage, such as falling from steps, poles or hanging objects. The orange color is related to the warning for equipment that can cause cutting or crushing damage.
Recommendations for working with electrical equipment
If you wonder what precautions should be taken when using electrical equipment, this is the section for you. Clothing is very important when working with electrical equipment.
Avoid wearing loose clothing and if possible use the fireproof type. In turn, dielectric boots and gloves are great allies to consider.
Analyze in detail each circuit and connection that you are going to handle. In addition, working without electricity is a prevention that you can take, and that can be of great help.
In the same way, you can ask yourself what are the environmental conditions that cause electrical shocks , the answer is simple but broad, heavy rains are extremely dangerous if you are working with electrical equipment.
Electrical storms, strong wind and continuous snowfall are also risky situations when working with circuits.
Finally, understanding the safety measures for working with electricity, it is unforgettable that operating circuits and electrical equipment with water around is not a good idea, and that the colors can mean different warnings.
