1

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Name

Institution

Professor

Course

Date
 2

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal government regulatory
agency established by the US Department of Labor in 1970. OSHA was established in the wake
of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was a historic accomplishment that created
safe and healthy work environments for all workers. The agency’s mandate is to reduce injury,
disease and death at the workplace by developing safety and health regulations and enforcing
compliance across all industries. OSHA’s influence touches virtually every workplace in the
United States — from construction to manufacturing to health care and agriculture. By working
through enforcement, education and partnership with employers, OSHA works to make
American workplaces safer and healthier (Bosetti, 2023). OSHA’s work is necessary because
workplace safety directly affects the health of workers and the prosperity of employers by
lowering costs associated with injuries and lost productivity.

OSHA’s Laws and Regulations the Laws and Regulations Of OSHA.

The laws and regulations that govern the work of OSHA guide its regulation of workplace safety
and health. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 is the basic law that established
OSHA’s mandate to issue regulations to encourage safer workplaces. One of these laws is the
General Duty Clause, which is a vital requirement that employers create a work environment free
from known hazards that cause death or serious bodily harm. This section is broad and applies to
many workplace hazards not specifically listed in other OSHA standards. Another big area of
oversight is OSHA’s sector-specific regulations for different industries that focus on specific
hazards in construction, health care, and manufacturing. For example, the Hazard
Communication Standard requires employers to label hazardous chemicals clearly, provide
safety data sheets, and educate workers on how to handle dangerous materials. OSHA’s
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, in particular, plays an essential role to safeguard healthcare
workers from contact with infectious materials. OSHA also has extensive recordkeeping
standards, including the OSHA 300 Log, that require employers to keep meticulous records of
work-related injuries and illnesses (Bosetti, 2023). Together, these laws form a unified code
under which OSHA makes workers safe under a wide variety of workplaces, adapting
regulations to accommodate new hazards at work.

Public Purpose of OSHA

OSHA’s general public mission is to ensure the health and safety of American workers by
reducing workplace risks and establishing standards. OSHA’s mission includes three primary
pillars: workplace inspections, training and outreach, and collaboration with industry and union
groups. Through routine inspections and fines, OSHA discovers and addresses unsafe practices,
and this discourages violation. Inspections could be prompted by employee complaints, fatal
accidents or high-hazard industries to make sure that OSHA’s resources go where they’re most
needed. OSHA also funds training and outreach to teach employers and employees about risk
prevention, safety measures and compliance (Felsen, 2024). Such initiatives as Voluntary
Protection Programs (VPP) and On-Site Consultation Programs inspire companies to implement
safety practices even when they are not directly subject to OSHA enforcement. In addition,
 3

OSHA conducts research and partnerships to explore and respond to emerging hazards, and
works with universities and industry to improve workplace safety continually (Felsen, 2024).
With these activities, OSHA seeks to prevent injury, decrease the social and economic burden of
workplace accidents, and ensure the safety of employees while executing its public policy goal
of protecting employees and helping the economy as a whole.

Alignment of OSHA Rules and Company Compliance.

Integrating OSHA into an organization’s compliance program is vital to reaching legal and
safety goals. OSHA influences an organization’s compliance department at the policy level,
through employee education and audits. One of the biggest ways OSHA influences compliances
is through the development of policies because firms have to bring their own safety systems up
to OSHA’s standard to comply with the regulations. For example, a compliance office might
have a hazard communication program that is compliant with OSHA’s Hazard Communication
Standard (such as labeling chemicals, making available safety data sheets, and training
employees on a regular basis) (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, n.d.). OSHA
mandates also exert significant pressure on company training and education; compliance
agencies, in partnership with human resources, deliver OSHA-mandated training on PPE,
emergency preparedness and machine safety. The training not only complies with the law but
also creates an environment of safety within the organization. Auditing and risk management are
also major compliance activities impacted by OSHA, where organizations need to constantly
audit safety policies and manage risk in advance so that they do not fall foul of the laws (Cohen
& Peterson, 2020). Compliance groups will conduct audits, review incident reports, and
workplace safety inspections to identify and address any hazards. By embedding OSHA
requirements into an organization’s compliance process, companies prevent accidents, promote
workplace safety, and mitigate the financial and legal liability for employee injuries.

Conclusion

OSHA’s function as a regulatory agency is at the heart of workplace safety in the United States.
By enforcing laws, performing inspections, and providing training, OSHA achieves its mission
to safeguard workers and minimize workplace hazards. Including OSHA into organizational
compliance is important, not only for compliance with regulations, but to create a safe culture
that minimizes the risks of injuries and supports the wellbeing of employees. As OSHA adapts to
new workplace challenges, businesses will need to stay on their guard for safety, actively
coordinating their compliance with OSHA’s changes. OSHA’s role in defining workplace safety
emphasizes the importance of its work to preserve public health and create safe workplaces for
workers and the companies that employ them.
 4

References

Bosetti, L. (2023). Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In Encyclopedia of

Felsen, M. (2024). Addressing Worker Safety and Health Through the Lens of Strategic
Enforcement—Part One. New solutions: a journal of environmental and occupational health
policy, 34(2), 133-146.

Cohen, J. M., & Peterson, R. D. (2020). The complete guide to OSHA compliance. CRC Press.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/