Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor that promotes safe and healthful working conditions. OSHA’s chief responsibility is the development and enforcement of job safety and health regulations. The agency also works to educate employers and employees about industrial hazards.
OSHA regulations deal with fire prevention, protective garments and railings, and many other safety matters. The rules also establish maximum levels of exposure to asbestos, lead, and other substances that could endanger the health of workers. OSHA inspectors check factories and other sites for violations, and employers who fail to make required changes are fined.
The agency encourages the states to develop their own health and safety programs to replace OSHA itself. Many states have programs approved by the agency. The federal government pays half the cost of such programs.
OSHA was established by the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and began operating in 1971. Many leaders of both business and labor have criticized the agency’s performance. Executives complain that OSHA demands too much paperwork and too many costly changes that do not increase safety. Labor leaders charge that the agency lags in developing new regulations and fails to enforce existing ones. To improve the agency’s performance, OSHA began additional training programs for inspectors and planned more efficient procedures.
