This manual provides a general overview of a particular topic related to OSHA standards concerning. <br />fire-and emergency protection. The manual is advisory in nature and informational in content. It is <br />not a standard or a regulation, and it neither creates new legal obligations nor alters existing obliga- <br />tions created by OSHA standards or the Occupational Safety and Health Act. <br />Employers are required to comply with hazard-specific safety and health standards as issued and <br />enforced either by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or by an OSHA- <br />approved State Plan. In addition, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the <br />General Duty Clause, requires employers-to provide their employees with a workplace free from <br />recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Employers can be cited for <br />violating the General Duty Clause if there is such a recognized hazard, and they do not take reason- <br />able steps to prevent or abate the'hazard. However, the failure to implement any of the recommen- <br />dations in this manual is not, in itself, a violation of the General Duty Clause. Citations can only be <br />based on standards, regulations, and the General. Duty Clause. <br />This manual does not supersede or substitute for any local or state laws, codes, ordinances, regula- <br />tions, or amendments thereto. This manual shall only be used as a nonbinding supplement to a <br />jurisdiction's requirements. <br />4 CrSHHA <br />Occupational Safety and <br />Health Administration <br />240 <br />120 <br />• <br />