What is the basic structure of the OSHA standards?

The basic structure of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards is described as horizontal. This means that many of the standards apply broadly across different industries and settings, rather than being tailored to a specific industry, which would be more vertical in structure. Horizontal standards provide general guidelines and requirements that can be adapted to various workplace environments to ensure safety and health across different sectors.

For example, general industry standards address workplace safety issues that are common across diverse fields, such as electrical safety, fall protection, and personal protective equipment. This horizontal approach allows OSHA to cover a wide range of hazards and ensures a baseline level of safety and health protection for workers in any sector. Therefore, identifying OSHA standards as horizontal emphasizes their universal applicability rather than being limited to specific sectors or industries, creating a more versatile framework for worker protection.