OSHA was founded on April 28, 1971 – four months after President Nixon had signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the OSH Act). The Act had the objective of ensuring safe and healthy conditions for working individuals by adopting, developing, and enforcing safety standards, and by assisting states with their own safety initiatives.
OSHA’s Foundation Years
Although OSHA opened its doors in April 1971, the foundation for its activities came from a much earlier time. Since 1922, the Bureau of Labor Standards had been the federal agency responsible for workplace safety and health; and, in addition to many industry-specific safety and health regulations already in existence, a number of states had adopted their own workplace safety standards.
OSHA had a strong foundation from which to develop and plenty of funding to support its development. By 1972, the Administration had approved State OSHA Plans in South Carolina, Oregon, and Montana, published its first original standard – lowering the permissible limit for worker exposure to asbestos – and established the OSHA Training Institute.
By the end of its first decade, OSHA had issued further standards covering worker exposure to lead, carcinogens, and cotton dust. To support the OSHA Training Institute, the Administration added safety and health training grants and an on-site consultation program, and whistle blower protections for employees had also been introduced.
The 1980s and 1990s
The 1980s started with a landmark decision by the Supreme Court that allowed workers to refuse to do tasks that were unsafe. OSHA subsequently issued the Hazard Communication Standard in 1983 which required employers in certain industries to inform workers what chemicals they may be exposed to in the workplace. The standard was expanded to apply to all industries in 1987.
Further new standards were introduced in subsequent years relating to safety testing for workplace equipment and worker protections against combustible grain dust, trenching, and noise. During this period of OSHA’s development, the Administration also refined existing standards to better protect workers employed in high-risk industries.
Important events also happened in respect of OSHA compliance. In 1990, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act substantially increased the penalties for OSHA violations; yet, despite this, the Administration adopted an incentive-based approach to enforcement – rewarding employers who could demonstrate a good faith effort to comply with OSHA with reduced penalties.
OSHA in the 21st Century
As the new millennium rolled in, OSHA adapted its standards to 21st Century workplace challenges. Established programs like the OSHA Training Institute grew in scope and availability, while the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program was introduced to recognize employers that lost fewer days to injuries and illnesses than the national average for the industry.
Yet, the 2000s presented plenty of challenges. Congress repealed OSHA’s Ergonomics Rule in 2001 due to its perceived complexity and potential strain on businesses. That same year, OSHA led the safety response to the attack on the World Trade Center and , in 2005, OSHA was again responsible for protecting the safety and health of recovery workers following Hurricane Katrina.
Initiatives in the 2010s included standards for silica dust, cranes, confined spaces, and the classification and labeling of work-related chemicals. OSHA also launched a major fall prevention campaign in 2013 to tackle the number one cause of worker fatalities in the construction industry.
In 2020, the new decade began with a challenge unlike any other faced by the American workforce as the coronavirus pandemic impacted workplace safety and health in unprecedented ways. OSHA acted quickly to protect the nation’s workers through outreach and education efforts, ensuring compliance with agency standards, and collaborations with federal, state, and local authorities.
It has been estimated that more than 600,000 fatal injuries have been prevented since OSHA was founded; but, with 5,190 workers being killed on the job in 2021, and a further 120,000 workers dying from historic occupational injuries and illnesses, there is still much work for OSHA to do.
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