OSHA Overtime Safety Limits

The U.S. Departments of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration is charged with protecting
the safety of all workers in the United States. To do this it has enacted a series of standards for different
industries that must be met. OSHA does
not enforce any overtime limits. It does,
however, issue guidelines that it urges
employers to follow.

Definition

The Fair Standards Labor Act establishes

the workweek for most American
employees at 40 hours in a seven-day
period. After 40 hours, overtime—base pay plus half—is required to be paid to the employee for each hour of
work. There is no federal limit on the amount of hours of overtime that an employee can be forced to work.
Although there is no federal limit to the number of hours that can be worked, OSHA states that there are
inherit dangers associated with prolonged work shifts.

Symptoms

A report by the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that prolonged overtime can cause
"decreased alertness, increased fatigue, lower cognitive function, increased injuries, periods of extreme
tension and anxiety, gastrointestinal pain or discomfort, and chest pain." In addition to these symptoms,
OSHA guidelines state that other symptoms can include weariness, sleepiness, irritability, lack of motivation,
increased susceptibility to illness, depression, headaches and giddiness.

Dangers

OSHA guidelines state the symptoms caused by excessive overtime can cause a higher chance of accident, of
operator errors and of injuries. In addition, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses states that
prolonged overtime can be a major contributor for medical safety issues, including medication errors.
Solutions

OSHA recommends that during overtime, employers should provide additional breaks and lunches. OSHA
also suggests that if overtime is necessary, reduce the number of hours per day worked and increase the
number of days. OSHA also encourages employers to look for signs of fatigue and to take quick action when
they spot any of the symptoms listed in Section 2.

Related Laws for Truck Drivers

Although OSHA only regulates truck drivers while they are at docking and loading facilities and fuel
stations, the federal government has instituted laws regarding overtime safety. These are enforced by the U.S.
Department of Transportation. Passenger hauling drivers can work no more than 10 hours before taking at
least eight hours off nor drive more than 60 to 70 hours in any seven- to eight-day span. Freight carrying
drivers may only work 11 hours with 10 hours off duty and cannot are also subject to the 60/70 rule.