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SUBJECT: OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

ALPHANUMERIC IDENTIFIER:

DESCRIPTION: Details on OSHA

KEYWORDS: OSHA, Occupational Safety Health Administration, Injury, Medical

OVERVIEW:

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was first enacted by Congress in 1970. Ever since, OSHA's mission has been clear and unwavering: "to assure so far as possible every working man and women in the nation safe and healthy working conditions." Coverage of the Act extends to all employers and their employees in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all other territories under Federal Government jurisdiction. Today federal OSHA maintains a staff of 2,209 employees (of which 1,113 are inspectors). OSHA operates under a $336.5 million budget and covers more than 100 million Americans at more than 6 million workplaces.

Every year in the United States, over 6,000 Americans die from workplace injuries, an estimated 50,000 people die from illnesses caused by workplace chemical exposures, and 6 million people suffer non-fatal workplace injuries. This equates to about 17 Americans who die every day on the job and nearly 50 American workers who are injured every minute. These injuries cost the economy more than $110 billion a year.

Since 1970, the overall workplace death rate has been cut in half. According to a recent study, in the three years following an OSHA inspection that results in penalties, injuries and illnesses have dropped on average by 22%. OSHA's top priorities for inspections are life threatening situations or accidents involving deaths or three or more workers injured seriously enough to require hospitalization.

OSHA and its state partners have approximately 2,100 inspectors, investigators, engineers, physicians, educators, standards writers, and other technical and support personnel. Combined there are mo re than 200 offices throughout the country. Nearly every working man and woman in the nation falls under OSHA's jurisdiction (with some exceptions such as miners, transportation workers, many public employees, and the self-employed).

Specifically, employers of 11 or more employees must maintain records of occupational injuries and illnesses as they occur. Under OSHA, all occupational injuries must be recorded if they result in:

• Death
• One or more lost workdays
• Restriction of work or motion
• Loss of consciousness
• Transfer to another job
• Medical treatment (other than first aid)

OSHA recognizes that the key to success is encouraging employers to work with their employees in haza rd identification and safety awareness, rather than have those workers depend solely on OSHA inspectors. Today, OSHA is committed to a common sense strategy of forming partnerships with employers and employees; conducting fair but firm inspections; devel o ping sensible, easy-to-understand regulations and eliminating unnecessary rules; and assisting employers in developing high quality safety and health programs. In fiscal year 1997, state consultants, authorized and funded largely by OSHA, conducted 21,59 6 free consultation visits with employers who asked for help in establishing safety and health programs or dealing with specific hazards at their workplace.

For information on OSHA publications and other informational materials contact the U.S. Department of Labor OSHA Publications, P.O. Box 37535, Washington, DC 20013-7535, (202)219-4667 or (202)219-9266 (Fax). Since states adopt and enforce their o wn standards under state laws, copies of state standards under state laws may be obtained from the individual states.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This is a March 29, 1999 revision by Gene Goodson of an assignment for OM742 contributed by XXX XXXX.