"general duty clause"

OSHA's general duty clause places responsibility for workplace safety with employers. The clause can also be used for enforcement purposes in the absence of standards regulating specific hazards involved.
Training employees on equipment and supplying protective gear is important but will not do anything to make unsafe conditions safer. It's in the employer's best interest to have safety policies in place which focus on preventing, eliminating and reducing hazards. These safety rules should be clear, specific and consistent with one another and should be consistently enforced.
If an employer is found to have violated the general duty clause, fines and citations can be issued; not only that, but in cases of workplace injury or illness, the employer will need to deal with workers' compensation cases along with any negative publicity the violation will bring. DB