The Definition of OSHA

What Is OSHA?

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is the federal agency within the U.S. Department of Labor responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety and health standards. Created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA began operating in 1971. It conducts inspections, issues citations and penalties, writes standards, and provides training, outreach and compliance assistance to employers across most private-sector industries.

Key Facts About OSHA

• OSHA standards are published in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including Part 1910 for general industry and Part 1926 for construction.
• Where no specific standard applies, OSHA can enforce the General Duty Clause.
• About half the states and territories run OSHA-approved State Plans instead of, or in addition to, federal enforcement.
• Employers must report fatalities within 8 hours and in-patient hospitalizations, amputations and eye losses within 24 hours.
• Maximum penalties are adjusted each year for inflation, with willful and repeat violations carrying the highest amounts.
• OSHA's free On-Site Consultation Program helps small businesses find and fix hazards without citations.

Example of OSHA Reporting

When a manufacturing plant reports an employee hospitalization, it must notify OSHA within 24 hours, and OSHA may follow up with an on-site inspection to determine what caused the incident.

What OSHA Requires of Employers

• Provide a workplace free from recognized serious hazards
• Follow applicable OSHA standards
• Train workers in a language and vocabulary they understand
• Keep injury and illness records, such as the OSHA 300 Log
• Post the OSHA Job Safety and Health poster
• Never retaliate against workers who exercise their rights

Related Terms

• OSHA Citation
• NIOSH
• MSHA
• OSHA Focus Four (Fatal Four)

Meaning of OSHA: Frequently Asked Questions

Does OSHA cover every workplace in the U.S.?

Most private-sector employers fall under federal OSHA or an OSHA-approved state plan, but there are exceptions. Self-employed individuals, some family farms, and certain industries regulated by other federal agencies, like mining, covered by MSHA, aren't covered the same way. Public-sector coverage also varies by state.

What triggers an OSHA inspection?

Common triggers include employee complaints, reported fatalities or hospitalizations, referrals from other agencies, targeted programs for high-hazard industries, and follow-up inspections after a previous citation.

What's the difference between an OSHA standard and a recommendation?

Standards, published in 29 CFR, are legally enforceable requirements that can result in citations and penalties if violated. Recommendations or guidance documents, like many NIOSH publications, inform best practice but don't carry the same legal weight unless referenced within an enforceable standard.

How are OSHA penalties calculated?

Penalties depend on the violation type, other-than-serious, serious, willful, or repeat, and factors like the size of the business, its compliance history, and good-faith efforts to fix the issue. Willful and repeat violations carry substantially higher maximum penalties than first-time, non-willful ones.

Can employees request an OSHA inspection?

Yes. Employees can file a complaint with OSHA, including confidentially, if they believe a workplace hazard exists. OSHA reviews the complaint and determines whether it warrants an on-site inspection, a phone or letter investigation, or another form of follow-up with the employer.

What does OSHA stand for?

OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The same acronym is sometimes used informally for the Occupational Safety and Health Act, but the law is usually called the OSH Act.