OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, sets and enforces safety standards to protect workers across industries. It aims to reduce risks, injuries, and fatalities by ensuring employers follow guidelines on hazard communication, PPE, fall protection, and more.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Labor responsible for ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for employees across various industries. Established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA creates and enforces standards aimed at reducing workplace hazards and preventing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
OSHA sets guidelines that employers must follow, covering everything from equipment safety and exposure limits to reporting procedures and employee training. It also offers support through outreach programs, education, compliance assistance, and partnerships with industry stakeholders.
Workplace safety isn’t just a moral responsibility—it’s a legal requirement. OSHA plays a central role in ensuring that employers provide conditions free of recognized hazards, such as toxic chemicals, mechanical dangers, and unsanitary environments. Its mission: to reduce occupational risks and promote a culture of safety through both enforcement and education.
OSHA regulations apply to most private sector employers and employees in all 50 states, as well as some public sector workers through OSHA-approved state plans.
Some common OSHA standards include:
Compliance with OSHA rules is not optional. Employers must:
Failure to meet OSHA regulations can result in penalties, litigation, or increased workers’ comp claims.
Construction remains one of the most hazardous industries, with high rates of workplace injuries and fatalities. OSHA plays a critical role in shaping safety management systems (SMS) for construction companies, setting clear guidelines that protect workers from preventable risks like falls, electrocution, struck-by incidents, and caught-in/between accidents—the so-called “Fatal Four.”
Under OSHA’s construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926), employers must implement proactive safety practices that go beyond compliance. This includes:
Construction employers must also assign a competent person—someone capable of identifying hazards and authorized to take corrective action—on every jobsite.
OSHA identifies four leading causes of fatalities in construction, known as the Focus Four:
While OSHA doesn't mandate a single “universal” safety plan, it does require employers to identify, evaluate, and control hazards. In practice, this often means creating a Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) that includes hazard assessments, safe work procedures, emergency contacts, and training logs. Written plans are especially important for compliance during inspections and audits.
Under OSHA standards, a competent person is someone who: