OSHA was created in 1970 to help employers and employees reduce injuries, illnesses and deaths on the job. Since then, workplace fatalities have been cut by more than 60% and occupational injury & illness rates have declined 40%. At the same time, U.S. employment has more than doubled and now includes over 115 million workers at 7.2 million worksites.
OSHA provides national leadership in occupational safety and health. The agency seeks to share the most effective ways to help prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. When employees stay whole and healthy, businesses benefit. They expereince lower workers’ compensation insurance costs, reduced medical expenditures, decreased payout for return-to-work programs, fewer faulty products, and lower costs for job accomodations for injured workers.
OSHA’s basic strategies:
Strong, fair and effective enforcement.
Outreach, education and compliance assistance.
Partnerships, Alliances and other cooperative and voluntary programs.
OSHA’s continuing role:
Each year almost 5,200 Americans die from workplace injuries in the private sector.
As many as 50,000 employees die from illnesses in which workplace exposures are a contributing factor
Nearly 4.3 miilion people suffer non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses
