OSHA Mission Statement Analysis

• Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Agency Executive: Douglas L. Parker
• Year founded: 1971
• Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA  
• Number of Inspectors: 1,850
• Type: Governmental Agency
• Jurisdiction: US Federal Government
• Annual Budget (2024): $632.3 Million

Products & Services: Workplace & Plant Registration | Registration of Approved Persons & Institutions | Workplace Inspection & Audits | Plant Examination & Testing | Accident Investigation & WIBA Processing | Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment Use | Fines | OSHA-approved State Plans  

Alternatives: American Society of Safety Professionals | International Labor Organization (ILO) | American Petroleum Institute (API) | National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) | Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in UK|Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) | WorkSafe in Australia

Did you know? OSHA traces its roots to the Bureau of Labor Standards, created by Frances Perkins in 1934. However, the agency was created in Dec 1970 by President Richard M. Nixon signing the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which became effective in Apr 1971.

OSHA is a safety focused regulatory agency of the US Department of Labor specializing in occupational safety and health (OSH). It was established by the US Congress under the 1970 OSH Act. The agency has 10 regional and 85 local offices and relies on the federal budget for its salaries, expenses, and grants to states for OSH programs. In 2024, the government allocated $632.3 million for OSHA, similar to its 2023 budget. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received $362.8 million in FY 2024. [1]

OSHA is the US government’s oversight body. It covers most private sector employers and their employees and some state and local government employers as well as workers in all 50 states, DC, and other US jurisdictions. OSHA’s mission, state plans, and cooperative programs have improved working conditions for employees. Since its inception, US daily worker deaths have decreased from 38 in 1970 to 15 in 2023. Injuries and illnesses per 100 workers dropped from 10.9 incidents in 1972 to 2.4 in 2023. These statistics reflect OSHA’s high success rate. [2]

To understand why OSHA is so successful, here is a comprehensive analysis of its mission statement, state plans, and cooperative programs:

OSHA’s Mission Statement

To assure America’s workers have safe and healthful working conditions free from unlawful retaliation. [3]

OSHA’s previous mission statement was: “To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.” It has adhered to these principles since its founding. In May 2024, OSHA refreshed its mission statement: “To assure America’s workers have safe and healthful working conditions free from unlawful retaliation.” This statement “fully reflects the agency’s purpose and the work we do to serve that purpose,” said OSHA. [4]

Here is our analysis of OSHA’s mission statement:

1. Ensure workplace safety

OSHA aims to assure America’s workers have safe working conditions. The agency achieves this mission by setting and enforcing safety standards and conducting workplace inspections. Its state partners and 1,850 inspectors are responsible for the health and safety of over 8 million US worksites. In FY 2024, OSHA conducted 34,696 federal inspections. [5]

OSHA encourages employers to develop safer operational strategies to minimize risks and avoid citations and penalties. OSHA’s standards play a crucial role in improving workplace safety. Since OSHA’s founding in 1971, workplace fatalities have decreased by 66%. Non-fatal illnesses and injuries were reduced by about 70% during the same period. Prioritizing employee safety benefits companies by increasing productivity and competitiveness. [6]

2. Protect workers’ health

OSHA is committed to protecting workers’ health and creating healthy working conditions. Its 1,850 inspectors serve 130 million workers, translating to about one OSHA compliance officer for every 70,000 employees. The agency fulfills its mission by setting and enforcing workplace health standards and training requirements and conducting inspections to identify hazards. It also educates workers on potential health risks in their workplace to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.

OSHA is expanding its guidelines beyond physical health to protect workers’ mental well-being. The agency encourages employers to implement mental health programs to support their employees. “With the increase in stress in work and life, we had to do something to inform more workers about the help and resources available to them,” said Marilyn Velez, an OSHA compliance assistance specialist in Atlanta. OSHA works with employers and mental health experts to keep workers physically safe and healthy. In Apr 2024, OSHA partners conducted the “Nurturing the Mental Health of Georgia Workers” campaign to increase awareness among workers. [7]

3. Enforce anti-retaliation provisions

OSHA enforces anti-retaliation provisions by adhering to the OSH Act. The agency investigates employers who retaliate against whistleblowers and recommends corrective actions to protect employees who report workplace safety concerns or violations. Its Whistleblower Protection Program enforces over 20 federal laws focused on retaliatory actions. For example, OSHA can investigate a company for firing, demoting, intimidating, or reducing the pay of an employee who reported workplace violations. [8]

4. Setting and enforcing standards

OSHA sets and enforces OSH Act standards to control and minimize health and safety risks in the workplace. These guidelines and requirements are stipulated in Part 1910, Title 29 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). They include general and industry-specific OSH Act provisions. For example, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees falls under OSHA’s general industry standards. Non-compliance with this safety requirement can expose the company to fines or legal action. [9]

OSHA refines occupational safety and health guidelines to align with industries’ evolution, such as the widespread adoption of remote work and gig jobs. In 2024, OSHA released enhanced training requirements for employers and employees to prevent and handle safety hazards. It expanded mandatory safety training requirements to cover gig and remote workers and employees working with new machinery and tech-driven processes. [10]

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OSHA’s State Plans

The OSH Act covers employers as well as employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other US jurisdictions through OSHA or an OSHA-approved State Plan. Individual states operate their State Plans’ occupational safety and health programs rather than federal OSHA. Section 18 of the OSH Act encourages states to develop OSH initiatives. As of Jan 2025, the US had 22 OSHA-approved State Plans covering private and public sector workers. The Seven State Plans cover only state and local government employees. OSHA monitors all State Plans, ensuring workplace safety and health. [11]

Federal OSHA can’t enforce its standards in states with OSHA-approved State Plans and OSH programs. Some states implement a hybrid Federal-State Plan. The implications of OSH regulations and non-compliance penalties depend on whether the worksite falls under OSHA, a State Plan, or a Hybrid Federal-State Plan. In Oct 2022, OSHA imposed millions of dollars in penalties on a retail chain for repeat workplace violations. The agency increased the fine after inspections on the retailer’s other US stores within federal OSHA jurisdiction. [12]

OSHA’s Cooperative Programs

OSHA has five cooperative programs: Alliance, Strategic Partnership, Voluntary Protection, Challenge, and On-Site Consultation. Each initiative allows businesses, labor groups, and other organizations to work cooperatively with OSHA to improve workplace safety. [13]

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1. Alliance Program

OSHA leverages its Alliance Program to develop collaborative working relationships with organizations committed to workplace safety and health. The agency works with trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, community and faith-based groups, and government agencies. Alliance Program members distribute information about OSHA’s initiatives and compliance assistance resources to workers and employers.

OSHA provides grants to Alliance Program members to train and educate workers in high-hazard industries. “Training is an effective tool for ensuring vulnerable workers understand what protections should be in place in the workplace and to know their rights,” said Douglas Parker, Assistant Secretary for OSHA. In Sep 2024, the agency awarded $12.7 million to 102 nonprofit organizations nationwide to fund education and training initiatives focused on creating safer workplaces. [14]

2. OSHA Strategic Partnership Program (OSPP)

OSHA partners with employers, workers, professional associations, labor organizations, and other interested stakeholders through the OSPP. Each partnership establishes specific goals and strategies to improve worker safety and health. In Nov 2013, OSHA expanded the OSPP and formalized its substantial experience with voluntary programs. The OSPP nurtures collaborative partnerships, allowing employers and employees to work with OSHA to identify hazards and develop efficient safety and health management systems. It helps reduce worker injuries, illnesses, and deaths. [15]

3. Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)

The VPP allows OSHA to work cooperatively and proactively with management teams and employees to prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. Its system focuses on worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, training, and employer-worker engagement. In Jun 2023, OSHA held a stakeholder meeting in Washington to discuss how to modernize, improve, and expand the VPP. The program was last updated in 1989. [16]

4. OSHA Challenge Program

Launched in 2004, OSHA Challenge provides professional assistance to help employers and workers improve their safety and health management systems. Challenge Administrators guide participants through three stages, from initial planning to development and implementation.

OSHA Challenge’s three-stage process helps organizations implement effective systems to prevent workplace injuries, fatalities, and illnesses. For example, the Westlake Lake Charles South facility joined the OSHA Challenge in Feb 2013. Its team worked with OSHA experts to create sustainable health and safety management system practices that meet the program’s requirements. In Dec 2022, the Westlake Lake Charles South facility completed all 3 stages and graduated from the OSHA Challenge Program. [17]

5. On-Site Consultation Program

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost OSH services to SMBs in all 50 states. Experienced consultants work with employers to identify workplace hazards and establish management systems. This initiative also includes SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program), which recognizes SMBs with exemplary OSH management systems. A 2023 OSHA paper revealed that the On-Site Consultation Program generates around $1.5 billion yearly in national economic benefits. [18]

References

1. SMACNA (2024, Apr 3). OSHA Budget To Remain Unchanged Throughout FY 2024. SMACNA.org
2. OSHA (2025, Jan 2). OSHA: Commonly Used Statistics. OSHA.gov
3. About Us: Our Mission. OSHA.gov
4. SHM (2024, May 22). OSHA revises its mission statement. Safety and Health Magazine
5. OSHA (2025, Jan 2). OSHA Statistics: Inspections. OSHA.gov
6. OOC (2023, Nov 10). Why OSHA Matters: Facts and Figures on Workplace Safety. OSHA Outreach Courses
7. OSHA (2024, Sep 23). Supporting workers’ mental well-being is essential for worker safety and health. OSHA.gov
8. WS Staff (2022, Sep 11). What makes an effective workplace anti-retaliation program? Weekly Safety
9. Tarlengco, J. (2024, Dec 22). OSHA Standards: A Guide to Health and Safety Compliance. Safety Culture
10. SafeWork Insider (2025, Jan 24). OSHA’s Enhanced Workplace Safety Training Requirements in 2024. Compliance Signs
11. OSHA (2025, Jan 1). State Plans: Overview. OSHA.gov
12. Kays, H. (2022, Dec 16). Understanding the Difference between Federal OSHA and State Plans. Nelson Mullins
13. OSHA’s Cooperative Programs. OSHA.gov
14. OSHA (2024, Sep 19). US Department of Labor announces $12.7M in grants awarded to promote workplace safety training and education. OSHA.gov
15. OSPP: Strategic Partnerships Overview. OSHA.gov
16. OSHA (2023, Jun 5). VPP Modernization: Listening Session. OSHA.gov
17. Guidry, M. (2023, Jan 5). Westlake Lake Charles South Facility Graduates from OSHA Challenge Program. OSHA.gov
18. OSHA (2023, Aug 23). Economic Benefits of the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program: Summary. OSHA.gov
19. Featured Image by Atieh Khoshraftar