The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a government agency. The U.S. Department of Labor created OSHA in 1970 to promote safety and health in the workplace. OSHA regulates businesses with 10 or more employees.
Function
OSHA creates and enforces standards designed to provide safe work environments for employees. OSHA standards regulate equipment, machinery, work environment, safety devices, protective clothing and the handling of dangerous substances.
Features
OSHA also inspects and investigates workplaces to ensure that businesses meet OSHA standards. They perform inspections unannounced and prioritize them according to businesses with potential for dangerous situations. OSHA may also conduct an inspection in response to an employee complaint. Failure to comply results in fines and other penalties from OSHA.
Misconceptions
Penalties for failure to meet OSHA standards are not automatic. OSHA investigators issue citations and recommend penalties if a business does not improve conditions within a certain time frame. A business can contest citations it feels are unfair.
Benefits
OSHA offers a consultation program that helps employers improve health and safety issues in their workplaces, as well as offers training to employees to help them work safely. Training may involve identifying specific areas of a business that pose a risk and suggesting improvements, as well as courses for employees on specific areas of worker safety, such as handling chemicals or blood.
Considerations
While recognizing the need for safety, many employers, particularly small businesses, find it difficult to keep up with frequently changing OSHA standards and making appropriate changes to their workplaces. Equipment that had previously met standards may need to be improved or replaced if new OSHA standards come out. It can also become expensive to update equipment and facilities.
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