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Workplace Safety(click here for a recent report from the Workers' Rights Public Welfare Foundation)
What does the Occupational Safety and Health Administration do?
OSHA's mission is the prevention of work-related injury, illness and
death. Since its creation in 1971, occupational deaths have
been cut by 62% and injuries have declined by 42%.
How many work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths occur each year in the United States?
In 2005, there were 4.2 million occupational injuries and illnesses
among U.S. employees. Approximately 4.6 of every 100 employees
experienced a job-related injury or illness. In 2006, 5,703
employees lost their lives on the job. For more information, go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Website, Safety and Health Statistics page
What is OSHA's budget, and how many inspectors does the agency have?
OSHA's budget for Fiscal Year 2007 iwas $486.9 million. The agency has a staff of 2,150, including 1,100 inspectors.
How many inspections does OSHA conduct each year?
OSHA inspected 38,579 workplaces during Fiscal Year 2006. The 26 states running
their own OSHA programs conducted an additional 58,058 inspections in
FY 2006.
What are OSHA's inspection priorities?
Top priority are reports of imminent dangers-accidents about to happen;
second are fatalities or accidents serious enough to send three or more
employees to the hospital. Third are employee complaints. Referrals
from other government agencies are fourth. Fifth are targeted
inspections-such as the Site Specific Targeting Program, which focuses
on employers that report high injury and illness rates, and special
emphasis programs that zero in on hazardous work such as trenching or
equipment such as mechanical power presses. Follow-up inspections are
the final priority.
What's the penalty for violating an OSHA standard?
OSHA penalties range from $0 to $70,000, depending upon how likely the
violation is to result in serious harm to employees. Other-than-serious
violations often carry no penalties but may result in penalties of up
to $7,000. Serious violations may have penalties up to $7,000. Repeat
and willful violations may have penalties as high as $70,000. Penalties
may be discounted if an employer has a small number of employees, has
demonstrated good faith, or has few or no previous violations. For more
information on OSHA penalties, see Section 17 of the OSH Act or information on penalties in the OSHA Publication All About OSHA {PDF File}.
What if OSHA inspects my workplace and I disagree with the findings?
Employers have the right to contest OSHA citations and/or penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers must file notices of contest within 15 working days of being issued citations.
How can I find out about OSHA inspections of my workplace or other companies?
OSHA maintains an inspection database on this Web site that you can use
to search for companies by name or by Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) code. You can limit your search by state or by
year if you wish.
Who must keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses?
About 1.5 million employers with 11 or more employees-20 percent of the
establishments OSHA covers-must keep records of work-related injuries
and illnesses. Workplaces in low-hazard industries such as retail,
service, finance, insurance, and real estate are exempt from
recordkeeping requirements. For more information on recordkeeping, click here.
Does my employer need to put up an OSHA poster in my workplace?
Yes, all employers must post the federal or a state OSHA poster to
provide their employees with information on their safety and health
rights. You may order a printed copy from the OSHA Publications Office
at
    (800) 321-OSHA or download and print one from this Web site in English or Spanish.
How can I get help from OSHA to fix hazards in my workplace?
If you are an employer, you may wish to contact the OSHA Consultation Program
for your state for free on-site assistance in identifying and
correcting hazards or setting up safety and health programs. You can
also contact the OSHA Area Office
nearest you to speak to the compliance assistance specialist about
training and education in job safety and health issues. Another option
is OSHA Advisors,
interactive software that "walks" you through specific OSHA standards
or helps identify potential hazards throughout your workplace. You can
also find information on specific topics on the OSHA Web site by using
the Alphabetical Subject
Indexes, Advanced Search options, or by reviewing featured topics on the main OSHA Home Page.
If you are a worker, you can call the nearest OSHA Area Office, or you can file a complaint online through the OSHA Workers' Page.
How can I get workplace safety and health training from OSHA?
You can contact the nearest OSHA Area Office to speak to the compliance assistance specialist. You also can check out training available at the OSHA Training Institute in the Chicago area or at one of the 20 education centers located at colleges and universities around the nation.
What cooperative programs does OSHA offer?
OSHA's Alliance Program
enables employers, labor unions, trade or professional groups, and
educational institutions that share an interest in workplace safety and
health to collaborate with OSHA to prevent injuries and illnesses in
the workplace. OSHA and the organization sign a formal agreement with
goals that address training and education, outreach and communication,
and promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health.
The OSHA Strategic Partnership Program
is for employers with varied backgrounds, experience and records in job
safety and health. Participants in OSPP share a common commitment to
improving workplace safety and health. These partnerships merge the
creative ideas and resources of OSHA and stakeholders. OSPP emphasizes
training and education in a voluntary, cooperative atmosphere. Tracking
results is key to the partnerships.
Voluntary Protection Programs
are OSHA's premier partnership programs designed to recognize
workplaces with exemplary safety and health programs. VPP participants
serve as models of excellence for others in their industries and
communities and are exempt from routine OSHA inspections.
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