OSHA APPROVED Chippewa 27422 Steel Toe Fire Boots 9"

CDF Compatible
OSHA Approved
Upper: Black Polishable
L eather lining. Vibram Sole. 
ANSI 75 Steel toe. Padded collar.
Height: 9"
Sizes: Men's: C 8-12, 13, D 4-12, 13, 14, E 7-12, 13 , EE 6-12, 13, 14
Suggested Retail Price: $219.00
Our Price: $189.00

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970. Its mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths by issuing and enforcing rules (called standards) for workplace safety and health.

OSHA was widely criticized in its early years for confusing, burdensome regulations. A good deal of the early conflict came about because of arbitrary and inconsistent enforcement during OSHA's early years. In addition, businesses were expected to retrofit guards and other safety devices on existing equipment and to implement other hazard controls, often at considerable expense, to bring them in line with then-current best safety practices. Other requirements, such as mandated training, communication, and extensive documentation were seen as even more difficult and expensive.

With time, manufacturers of industrial equipment have included OSHA-compliant safety features on new machinery. Enforcement has become more consistent across jurisdictions, and some of the more outdated or irrelevant rules have been repealed or are not enforced.

During the Jimmy Carter administration, under the leadership of University of Cincinnati toxicologist Eula Bingham, OSHA began to concentrate more on health hazards, such as toxic chemicals. Bingham also launched the "New Directions" program, OSHA's first worker training grant program.

With the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations came efforts to weaken OSHA enforcement and rulemaking, although several important rules were issued including hazard communication (right to know about chemical exposures) and blood-borne pathogens (to protect workers against illnesses such as hepatitis and AIDS). The Reagan administration also launched OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), OSHA's first foray into voluntary programs and partnerships with industry. In the VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. Approval into VPP is OSHA's official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.

The Bill Clinton administration began a reorganization of OSHA's approach, focusing more on "stakeholder" satisfaction through compliance assistance. When the Republicans took over Congress in 1994, one of their goals was reducing some of the agency's ability to issue standards. Some Republican sponsored bills were stopped by the Democratic minority and moderate Republicans, but other legislation passed, such as the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 and the Congressional Review Act.

In 2000, OSHA issued the ergonomics standard after ten years of study and struggles with a Republican-controlled Congress and business associations such as the Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers that were unconvinced that additional government regulation was the right way to address the issue of ergonomic injuries to American workers. Ergonomic injuries (also known as musculoskeletal injuries) such as back injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome, account for 1/3 of all serious injuries suffered by American workers. In March 2001, the Republican controlled Congress voted to repeal the standard and the repeal was one of the first major pieces of legislation signed by President George W. Bush. Since the repeal of the ergonomics standard, OSHA has issued three ergonomics guidelines, and only a small handful of ergonomic citations under the Act's "general duty" clause.

The Bush administration has largely replaced the process of issuing mandatory regulations with voluntary guidelines and put additional resources into other, previously existing voluntary programs, as well as new "Alliance" program.

OSHA Reports on Mislabeled Steel Toe Logger Boots

Purpose

The purpose of this Safety and Health Information Bulletin is:

1. To alert employers and employees of the potential electrical hazards of Georgia Boot's mislabeled steel toe logger boots;
2. To provide Georgia Boot customers with the manufacturer's recall instructions for the subject boots; and
3. To remind users of OSHA's requirements for electrical protective equipment as covered by 29 CFR 1910.137.

Background

Georgia Boot, a manufacturer of steel toe safety boots, has discovered that three models of its logger boots may have been mislabeled "EH," thus incorrectly indicating that they are resistant to electrical current. This may result in an increased risk of electric shock or electrocution to employees who use these boots for supplemental protection against electrical current, since these boots are not designed to provide insulation or protection against electrical current.

Click Here to See OSHA Case on Potential Hazards of Mislabeled Steel Toe Logger Boots

Visit OSHA Website at http://www.osha.gov