InstituteOverview (Level 1)AnalysisSafety & HealthGeneral Industry SafetyGeneral Duty ClauseEnglishGeneral Duty ClauseFocus AreaUSA
General Duty Clause (GDC)
['General Duty Clause']
In situations where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has not developed specific standards for a hazard, employers are responsible for complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)). The General Duty Clause states that each employer must furnish “a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.”
Where OSHA inspectors find workplace hazards that are not addressed in the regulations, they may cite the employer under the General Duty Clause. Examples include:
- Ergonomics hazards,
- Outdoor or indoor heat-related hazards,
- Work violence hazards,
- Certain infectious disease hazards,
- Indoor air quality,
- Conveyor hazards, and
- Storage rack hazards.