What OSHA is, why it exists, and what employers must do

Executive overview

Workplace deaths were common and largely unregulated before the 20th century. A 1907 mine explosion that killed 362 workers, and decades of lobbying and reform, led to the creation of OSHA in 1970.

OSHA sets and enforces federal workplace safety standards. All employers must meet the General Duty Clause baseline; high-risk industries face stricter, tailored rules.

Noncompliance carries severe penalties — fines, criminal charges, and reputational damage that can cost billions.

How OSHA came to be

• Pre-1900 state laws existed but were rarely enforced; businesses lobbied against oversight
• States competed for business by relaxing safety rules, blocking national standards
• 1907 Monongah mine disaster: 362 workers killed, 506 children orphaned
• U.S. Bureau of Mines founded 1910; Department of Labor created 1913
• By 1921, worker compensation programs proved large-scale safety incentives worked
• 1960: federal law forced states to follow federal safety guidelines
• OSHA officially passed in 1970

What OSHA does

• Employs compliance officers (inspectors) to visit worksites and investigate complaints
• Inspectors are triggered by reports of unsafe practices or by injury/fatality records in submitted forms
• Has identified five major industries requiring tailored safety guidance
• National Office in Washington D.C., with field offices throughout the country

Employer responsibilities

• Provide PPE appropriate to the work environment (masks, gloves, harnesses, hard hats)
• Ensure the worksite itself is free of hazards — regular equipment inspections, weather delays when needed
• Train employees on safety requirements during onboarding; require sign-off on protocols
• Post OSHA workplace safety posters in a visible location (free to download from DOL website)
• Follow the stricter rule when state OSHA standards exceed federal ones (e.g., California)

OSHA recordkeeping forms

• Form 301 — incident report; fill out within 7 days of a recordable work-related injury or illness
• Form 300 — running log of incidents at each worksite; record each incident as it occurs
• Form 300A — annual summary; post visibly February 1–April 30, submit to OSHA by March 2

What noncompliance looks like

• BP: $81,340 fine for 250 violations linked to the Deepwater Horizon spill (11 killed, 17 injured)
• BP and partners have spent $71 billion since 2010 on equipment, safety, and cleanup
• 2023 Connecticut construction company: ignored trench box requirements; worker killed; owner and equipment operator charged with first-degree manslaughter
• Some OSHA violations lead to criminal prosecution, not just fines