Understanding the General Duty Clause – Why Your Training Responsibilities Matter

When it comes to workplace safety, training is not just about checking a box—it’s about protecting our people, our guests, and our business. One of the most important legal standards we are held to is something many overlook: the General Duty Clause of the OSHA Act.

What Is the General Duty Clause?

The General Duty Clause (OSHA Act, Section 5(a)(1)) requires that:

"Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm."

This clause is broad by design. It allows OSHA to hold employers accountable for hazards even if there is no specific regulation for that risk. That includes things like:

• Excessive heat exposure

• Workplace violence

• Human trafficking risks

• Slip and fall hazards

• Inadequate training on cleaning chemicals or safety procedures

Why This Matters to You as a GM

Some leaders may think, “We’ve never had an incident—so we’re fine.” But that mindset is exactly what leads to citations and costly claims when something does happen. OSHA’s job is to look at whether we recognized a hazard and failed to act—not whether we’ve been lucky enough to avoid it.

If an employee gets hurt and hasn’t been properly trained—or if reasonable precautions weren’t taken—your property could face:

• OSHA citations and fines

• Workers’ comp claims

• Increased insurance premiums

• Damage to brand and trust

• Legal liability for failing to meet your duty of care

What You Can Do

• Ensure all OSHA-required training is completed on time and documented.

• Take every policy seriously—even if you’ve never had an issue.

• Create and maintain a workplace where safety is a daily priority, not an afterthought.

• Understand that “It hasn’t happened to me” is not a defense.

We don’t just train because we’re required to—we train to protect our teams, our guests, and our future.

If you have questions about the General Duty Clause or want help reviewing your current training practices, please reach out. We're here to support you.

Thank you for leading by example.