OSHA plays by its own rules-and anyone else's it wants to

When it comes to enforcing workplace safety rules, OSHA is the big dog. And the agency doesn't need direct regulation to rule on an activity. Industry standards can be enough of a mandate to allow OSHA to regulate certain actions for the safety of the employees.

OSHA sometimes refers to other agencies' recommendations or procedures by "incorporation." The agency carries out this action under the authority of the so-called "general duty clause." This clause is the catch-all portion of the Occupational Safety and Health Act that requires businesses to provide a safe and healthful workplace free from recognizable, unnecessary hazards.

For instance, OSHA has no specific regulation for chemotherapy procedures in veterinary practices, so the agency has adopted the recommendations of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). If your practice doesn't follow those guidelines, you'll need to prove that your program does provide at least the same safety levels for your staff. If you can't, OSHA can cite you.

You can't assume you're following all the safety rules even if you're following every rule written for veterinary practices. OSHA casts a wider net for safety rules than its own specific regulations, and you should too.