ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a review of key aspects of federal regulations regarding workplace safety and environmental protection. When preparing safety programs or addressing environmental protection issues, broadcasters are encouraged to read further and seek the advice of specialists and attorneys in these fields. Two federal agencies administer workplace safety and environmental protection—the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency. This chapter covers four main areas: OSHA background and the General Duty Clause, OSHA standards of particular interest to the broadcasting workplace, Toxic and hazardous substances and Environmental impacts of new facilities. In addition to the substances that have specific OSHA standards, all potentially hazardous substances in the workplace are subject to the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), with limited explicit exceptions. The National Historic Preservation Act outlines requirements that the federal government must observe relating to impacts on historical sites and native religious sites.
