OSHA Readiness Paper

OSHA Readiness The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics July 2014 report, estimates 146 million people are employed in the U.S. The U.S. workforce represents a comparative advantage supporting economic improvement. Prior to 1970 there was not a standardized approach to employee protection against work place safety and health hazards. In 1970 Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This resulted in an enforceable organization known as OSHA. OSHA’s purpose is to “to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.”

The approval of the OSHA Act of 1970 authorized the organization with the responsibility for creating enforceable standards supporting safe and healthful working conditions. This Act covers all employers and their employees in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all other territories under Federal Government jurisdiction. While OSHA creates the standards it is the responsibility of the employer to interpret and institute actions to ensure compliance to these standards. Furthermore, employees must comply with all rules and regulations which are applicable to their own actions and conduct.

Part of OSHA’s responsibilities is to assure, through inspection, an organizations

These unsafe conditions increase the likelihood of worker injuries, illness, and fatalities. In 2012 there were 4,628 reported fatalities in the U.S. occurring within employer facilities. This amount breaks down to approximately 89 per week or 12 per day. The 2012 total also represents the lowest total since 1992 ("Occupational safety &," 2012). Detractors of OSHA initiatives target the cost to business with complying with these standards. In 1999 businesses spent over $100 billion to meet OSHA mandates (Weidenbaum,