The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has implemented a safety program that includes a workplace anti-bullying policy for its workers. This policy is detailed in the 278-page OSHA Field Health and Safety Manual, released on May 23, 2011. Developed in collaboration with the National Council of Field Labor Locals, a union representing OSHA workers, the manual outlines safety practices for OSHA’s field offices.
OSHA's workplace bullying policy is significant due to the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which mandates employers to ensure a work environment free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious harm. Despite research indicating that workplace bullying can severely impact mental and physical health, OSHA has not enforced this clause specifically for bullying until now.
The policy aims to create a workplace free from violence, harassment, intimidation, and other disruptive behaviors. It defines “intimidating behavior” as actions that create a hostile environment, impair operations, or alarm others, including verbal intimidation through malicious or disrespectful statements. “Workplace violence” includes actions intended to control or harm others, whether verbal, written, or physical.
OSHA employees must treat others with dignity and respect, and management is responsible for maintaining a safe working environment through preventive measures and prompt responses to threats or violence. Employees are prohibited from engaging in threats, violent outbursts, intimidation, bullying, harassment, or other abusive behaviors.
Key responsibilities include:
- Disseminating workplace violence policies and procedures to all employees.
- Providing annual training on this policy and the U.S. Department of Labor’s workplace violence program for responsible OSHA managers.
- Investigating and reporting all incidents of workplace violence, with reports submitted to the Regional Administrator within 24 hours.
To support the implementation of such policies, Latenode can streamline the process through automation. By using Latenode, OSHA can automate the dissemination of policies, schedule and manage training sessions, and create automated workflows for incident reporting and investigation. Latenode’s capabilities ensure compliance, enhance efficiency, and reduce manual workload, making it an ideal tool for managing complex safety programs.
