Definition
The federal agency within the US Department of Labor responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety and health standards to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
UK Context
Best Practices
- Maintain accurate OSHA 300 logs and post the annual 300A summary from February 1 through April 30
- Conduct regular workplace safety audits and hazard assessments
- Report fatalities within 8 hours and hospitalisations, amputations, or eye losses within 24 hours
- Provide required safety training in a language and vocabulary workers can understand
- Display the OSHA 'Job Safety and Health — It's the Law' poster in a conspicuous workplace location
Frequently Asked Questions
Which employers must comply with OSHA?
Nearly all private-sector employers with one or more employees must comply with OSHA standards. Self-employed individuals, family farm operations employing only immediate family members, and workplaces regulated by other federal agencies are generally exempt.
What are the penalties for OSHA violations?
Penalties range from up to $16,131 per serious violation to $161,323 per wilful or repeated violation (2024 rates, adjusted annually). Failure to abate a hazard can incur daily penalties. Criminal penalties including imprisonment are possible for wilful violations resulting in death.
Can an employee refuse to work in unsafe conditions?
Yes. Under OSHA, employees have the right to refuse work they reasonably believe poses an imminent danger of death or serious injury, provided they have asked the employer to correct the hazard and the danger is so urgent that normal enforcement procedures cannot address it in time.