What is Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA?

The mission of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) is to save lives, prevent injuries and protect the health of America's workers. To accomplish this, federal and state governments work in partnership with the more than 100 million working men and women and their six and a half million employers who are covered by theOccupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

OSHA and its state partners have approximately 2100 inspectors, plus complaint discrimination investigators, engineers, physicians, educators, standards writers, and other technical and support personnel spread over more than 200 offices throughout the country. This staff establishes protective standards, enforces those standards, and reaches out to employers and employees through technical assistance and consultation programs.

Nearly every working person in the nation comes under OSHA's jurisdiction (with some exceptions such as miners, transportation workers, many public employees, and the self-employed). Other users and recipients of OSHA services include occupational safety and health professionals, the academic community, lawyers, journalists, and personnel of other government entities.