Where no specific standards apply to a workplace situation, employers must follow the __________.

Where no specific standards apply to a workplace situation, employers must follow the __________.

• A. General Duty Clause
• B. Safety Standard
• C. Hazard Clause
• D. Employer Policy

Answer: (A)

When no specific standard covers a hazard, employers must rely on OSHA’s General Duty Clause, which requires providing a workplace free from recognized hazards that could cause death or serious harm. This clause acts as a safety net, obligating you to identify hazards, assess the risk, and implement feasible controls—engineering, administrative, or PPE—even when there isn’t a matching rule. It’s enforceable by OSHA, which can cite the clause if a hazard is present and no applicable standard exists. Internal policies can help guide safety practices, but they don’t replace the legal duty to abate hazards when no standard applies.

When no specific standard covers a hazard, employers must rely on OSHA’s General Duty Clause, which requires providing a workplace free from recognized hazards that could cause death or serious harm. This clause acts as a safety net, obligating you to identify hazards, assess the risk, and implement feasible controls—engineering, administrative, or PPE—even when there isn’t a matching rule. It’s enforceable by OSHA, which can cite the clause if a hazard is present and no applicable standard exists. Internal policies can help guide safety practices, but they don’t replace the legal duty to abate hazards when no standard applies.