OSHA’s Mission is to Ensure Safe Workplaces
OSHA’s mission is to ensure safe workplaces and, to help fulfil this mission, OSHA has the authority to develop and enforce standards that ensure safe and healthy working conditions. OSHA’s mission to ensure safe workplaces is supported by multiple initiatives. For example:
- OSHA provides training programs for members of the public.
- OSHA provides tools and resources for in-house safety training.
- OSHA provides on-site compliance assistance to employers.
- OSHA responds to safety complaints made by employees.
- OSHA investigates all workplace fatalities and catastrophes.
- OSHA receives reports of workplace injuries and illnesses.
- OSHA provides training grants to non-profit organizations.
- OSHA publishes safety and health posters, fact sheets, and advice.
- OSHA organizes workplace safety programs with labor groups.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1971 following the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) a year earlier. OSHA’s mission is to ensure safe workplaces in order to reduce the human and economic costs of avoidable injuries and illnesses.
Because it oversees safety and health in more than 7 million workplaces, the OSHA prioritizes it resources on where the agency can have the greatest impact on reducing injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace. Consequently, many OSHA initiatives focus on industries with high injury rates.
OSHA’s Initiatives to Ensure Safe Workplaces
Possibly the most effective initiative is OSHA’s training programs. These consist of OSHA-authorized Training Institute Education Centers that run courses on workplace safety and health, outreach 10-hour and 30-hour training courses designed to make workers more aware of hazards, and interactive web-based training and on-site compliance assistance for employers.
Get The FREE
OSHA & HIPAA Checklist
Immediate Delivery of Checklist Link To Your Email Address
Please Enter Correct Email Address
Your Privacy Respected
HIPAA Journal Privacy Policy
Despite this depth of training, workplace accidents and injuries still occur. When an accident results in a fatality of catastrophic injury, OSHA will investigate the cause and sanction employers if they have failed to comply with an OSHA standard. The agency will also investigate complaints made by employees and other agencies about unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.
You can find out more about OSHA sanctions, employees’ rights, and information about OSHA standards that apply to healthcare organizations on our OSHA compliance checklist. The checklist page also includes tips about what areas of OSHA compliance healthcare organizations should include in an OSHA Inspection checklist to self-assess compliance with OSHA.
Summary
To summarize what OSHA’s mission is and how the agency fulfils it – OSHA’s mission is to ensure safe workplaces by developing workplace safety and health standards. To ensure compliance with the standards, OSHA provides training programs and employer education. The agency also has an inspection program through which it can fine non-compliant businesses.
