The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for the regulation and enforcement of safety and health standards in most private and public workplaces in the United States. Key areas that OSHA regulates include:

• Safety Standards
• Hazard Communications
• Recordkeeping and Reporting
• Training and Education
• Inspections and Enforcement
• Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Whistleblower Protections

Overview of OSHA Regulation

OSHA is best known for setting and enforcing workplace safety and health standards. These standards include rules and regulations concerning the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), fall protection, and the safe handling of hazardous materials.

The agency requires employers to inform and train employees about hazards in the workplace, safe handling procedures, and emergency protocols. This includes the use of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and the proper labeling of hazardous substances.

With regard to recordkeeping and reporting, employers must maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses, submit annual summaries of the injuries and illnesses, and report serious incidents such as fatalities and injuries resulting in hospitalization.

OSHA provides training programs and educational resources to enhance employer and employee knowledge of occupational safety and health. These include outreach programs that recognize exemplary safety and health programs that result in fewer days lost to injury and illness than the national average.

Enforcement, Emergency Preparedness, and Whistleblower Protections

OSHA is most often alerted to potential non-compliance with safety and health standards via injury reports, worker complaints, and referrals from state and federal agencies. OSHA conducts workplace inspections according to a “system of priorities” to ascertain adherence to its standards. If violations are identified, OSHA has the authority to issue citations and fines.

Outside of its regulatory responsibilities for individual organizations, OSHA develops, regulates, and orchestrates safety and health practices for multiple response organizations in emergency situations. Response organizations can sometimes be overwhelmed in large-scale events such as extreme weather events, and OSHA has the authority to take control of emergency response if required.

Finally, OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than 20 statutes. In addition to protecting whistleblowers against retaliation for reporting safety and health violations, the Program protects employees who report issues relating to consumer products, the environment, health insurance reform, food safety, and motor vehicle safety.

What does OSHA Regulate? Conclusion

OSHA regulates many aspects of workplace safety and health – not only in the private sector but in some public sector workplaces as well. Because it is important for businesses to understand which standards may apply to their activities, we have compiled an OSHA compliance checklist that provides more information about OSHA and the OSHA requirements for employers.

Businesses that require further information – or who need help to comply with OSHA’s safety and health standards – should reach out to OSHA via the agency’s website or seek independent compliance advice.

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