Occupational Safety and Health Standards: Interpretation of the General Duty Clause: Limitation for Inherently Risky Professional Activities
Summary
OSHA is proposing to limit how strictly it enforces workplace safety rules for jobs that are inherently dangerous, such as firefighting, law enforcement, and military service. The proposal would create an exception to OSHA's general requirement that employers protect workers from recognized hazards, acknowledging that some professions carry unavoidable risks that can't be eliminated.
Key Points
- 1OSHA wants to create a new exception for 'inherently risky professional activities' where the danger is unavoidable even with safety measures
- 2This could affect workers in high-risk jobs like firefighting, police work, military operations, and emergency response
- 3The proposal would limit OSHA's ability to cite employers for safety violations in these professions, even if workers are injured or killed
- 4The public comment period runs until November 2, 2025, allowing workers, employers, and safety advocates to share their views
- 5Critics worry this could weaken safety protections, while supporters argue it recognizes the reality that some dangerous jobs cannot be made completely safe
Key Dates
August 20, 2025
This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.
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