Only Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards are legally enforceable in facilities that are regulated by OSHA. However, many of the OSHA standards are severely outdated and can be based on scientific research from the 1970s or earlier. Other organizations, like the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), publish guidelines that are based on more recent scientific research. What are your thoughts on whether a facility should only worry about complying with the OSHA regulations or go beyond compliance and use the stricter requirements of either OSHA regulations or other guidelines?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Case for Stricter Safety Guidelines in Occupational Settings
Introduction
Occupational safety and health regulations play a crucial role in protecting workers from workplace hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets the legal standards that employers must follow to ensure a safe working environment. However, the question arises whether merely complying with OSHA regulations is sufficient, considering that many of these standards are outdated and may not reflect the latest scientific research. This essay explores the importance of going beyond OSHA regulations and adopting stricter safety guidelines, such as those provided by organizations like the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
Outdated OSHA Regulations
One of the primary concerns with relying solely on OSHA regulations is that many of these standards were established several decades ago. The scientific understanding of workplace hazards has evolved significantly since the 1970s, when many OSHA standards were first introduced. As a result, some OSHA regulations may not adequately address emerging risks or reflect the best practices for ensuring worker safety. For instance, exposure limits for certain chemicals or substances may be based on outdated research, potentially putting workers at risk.
Benefits of Stricter Guidelines
Adopting stricter safety guidelines, such as those recommended by organizations like ACGIH, offers several advantages. Firstly, these guidelines are often based on the most current scientific research and best practices in occupational safety and health. By following more stringent guidelines, employers can better protect their workers from known and emerging hazards, reducing the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses.
Furthermore, going beyond OSHA regulations demonstrates a commitment to prioritizing worker safety and well-being. It sends a clear message to employees that their health is valued and that every effort is being made to provide them with a safe working environment. This can lead to increased employee morale, productivity, and retention, creating a positive workplace culture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while OSHA regulations form the legal foundation for workplace safety in regulated facilities, they may not always reflect the latest scientific knowledge and best practices. Employers should consider going beyond mere compliance with OSHA standards and adopting stricter safety guidelines to better protect their workers and demonstrate a commitment to safety. By following guidelines based on current research, such as those provided by organizations like ACGIH, employers can create safer workplaces, improve employee morale, and ultimately enhance overall productivity and well-being. It is time for facilities to prioritize safety by embracing stricter safety guidelines to ensure the health and safety of their workers.
