Who Is Responsible for Establishing OSHA Standards?

Establishing and enforcing health and safety standards in the workplace is an important mandate for the federal government.

Origin

• During the Nixon administration, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. These government agencies work together to promote and assure occupational health and safety for workers.

Standards

• NIOSH acts as a research institution for OSHA and establishes standards for workplace health and safety across all 50 states. As a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforces them.

Mission

• The mission of NIOSH is to translate their research results into practical solutions for the improvement of working conditions. In partnership with OSHA, it strives to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and death.

Funding

• NIOSH funds programs that support its prevention efforts. These programs include the availability of training project grants that train researchers and occupational health professionals.

Penalties

• If OSHA standards are violated, OSHA penalizes the organization responsible. Fines range from nothing to $70,000 and depend on the extent to which any employees were harmed or if the organization is a repeat offender.