OHS18 -- Setting the Standard in Health & Safety Management

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), was created under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed by President Richard M. Nixon on December 29, 1970.

OSHA's mission is to ensure safe and healthful workplaces in America with the administrations primary focus being in four strategies:

1. Leadership
OSHA is committed to leading the dialogue on occupational safety and health and championing the value that safety and health add to any enterprise.

2. Strong, Fair and Effective Enforcement
OSHA's efforts to protect workers' safety and health are all built on the foundation of a strong, fair and effective enforcement program. At the same time OSHA seeks to assist the majority of employers who want to do the right thing.

3. Outreach, Education and Compliance Assistance
OSHA plays a vital role in preventing on-the-job injuries and illnesses through outreach, education and compliance assistance.

4. Partnerships
OSHA's Strategic Partnership Program targets the strategic areas of construction, shipbuilding, food processing, logging, silica and nursing homes and includes partnerships that zero in on specific hazards or include partners in a specific geographic area. These partnerships focus on safety and health programs and include outreach and training components along with enforcement.

Since the agency was created in 1971, workplace fatalities have been cut in half and occupational injury and illness rates have declined 40 percent. OSHA sets a series of priorities by which it operates. Top priority for the Administration are reports of imminent dangers-accidents about to happen; second are fatalities or accidents serious enough to send three or more workers to the hospital. Third are employee complaints. Referrals from other government agencies are fourth. Fifth are targeted inspections-such as the Site Specific Targeting Program, which focuses on employers that report high injury and illness rates, and special emphasis programs that zero in on hazardous work such as trenching or equipment such as mechanical power presses. Follow-up inspections are the final priority.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act
"To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women; by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act; by assisting and encouraging the States in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working conditions; by providing for research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health; and for other purposes."

The OHS Act contains a substantial number of provisions, and basically established a body with mandatory power to audit organizations for compliance against health and safety standards.

Courtesy of OSHA