What does OSHA's general duty clause require?

• A. Employers must comply with every specific OSHA standard without exception.
• B. Employers must provide PPE to all workers at all times.
• C. Employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause harm to employees.
• D. Employers must report all incidents to OSHA within 8 hours.

Answer: (C)

OSHA's general duty clause says employers must keep the workplace free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. This broad obligation acts as a safety baseline, covering hazards that aren’t specifically addressed by a particular OSHA standard. It means you should identify potential hazards, implement appropriate controls, train workers, and correct unsafe conditions even when there isn’t a dedicated standard for that hazard. PPE requirements or incident reporting can come from specific standards, but they aren’t the general duty clause itself.