• OSHA standards help protect the environment from sources of contamination by regulating business and industry.pollution image by Svetlin Rusev from Fotolia.com
  
  The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is one of the lead government entities in determining industrial safety regulations and environmental controls for business. The establishment of OSHA helped to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women. Since the administration's founding in 1970, standards have evolved to include more rigorous controls for protecting the health of individuals and the environment. Following the protocols and standards set forth by OSHA reduces environmental contamination from industry and helps prevent accidents.
  
  

Emergency Planning and Spill Regulation

• OSHA emergency preparedness standards for industry are broad in scope, and cover many facets that could potentially affect environmental quality. Industries that use hazardous substances are required to document all hazardous materials used or produced, and also to keep a material safety data sheet, or MSDS, on hand for each hazardous substance found in a particular facility. An MSDS is required even if a hazardous substance is only being transported off site. Response plans are also required in the event that an accidental release occurs. OSHA stipulates that all employees understand the response plan, and that every employee knows to either evacuate safely or perform their specific control duties in an emergency.
  
  

Construction and Maintenance

• Potentially hazardous substances can be benign if they are left at rest in containment. However, periods of construction or building repair are times when hazardous substances are moved or their storage condition otherwise changes. A higher risk of spills and as such a higher risk of environmental contamination can occur during construction. OSHA requires a qualified city or state inspector be notified immediately if undocumented hazardous materials are found during construction. Risk to human health is also increased in "hot zones" or areas where active work is being done on electrical systems and with welding and cutting using acetylene or plasma torches. OSHA requires that due notice be given to workers on site and nearby businesses before any of these activities take place, and that all hot work is done with full protective equipment.
  
  

Training

• To avoid spills and possible environmental contamination, employers must properly train employees in their industrial facility and provide a passable standard of personal protective equipment. Failing to meet these training requirements is met with severe action. Each failure by an employer to train employees or provide them with necessary equipment can be treated as separate violations of OSHA standards. Online training is available through OSHA as a refresher for safety standards, some are free and some require payment.