Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces workplace safety standards to protect American workers from hazards on the job. Created in 1971, OSHA establishes regulations covering chemical exposure, fall protection, equipment safety, and recordkeeping.

The agency conducts workplace inspections, investigates complaints, and imposes penalties on employers who violate standards. OSHA prioritizes construction, manufacturing, energy, and other high-risk industries to ensure workers return home safely.

Understanding Your Rights and Protections

Workers have rights under OSHA, including a safe workplace, reporting hazards without retaliation, and accessing safety training and information. Understanding workplace safety rights, resources, and protection helps employees recognize unsafe conditions and file complaints.

Employers must maintain injury and illness records, provide safety equipment, and comply with standards for respiratory protection and hazardous materials.

Emerging Workplace Technologies and Safety

As automation transforms workplaces, OSHA regulates technologies like robots working alongside humans using machine guarding and general duty clause requirements. OSHA’s 2026 agenda emphasizes heat illness prevention, stricter silica exposure enforcement, and enhanced recordkeeping. The agency is developing standards for workplace violence prevention and infectious disease preparedness.