Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for employees across the nation. OSHA accomplishes this by setting and enforcing workplace safety standards and providing training, outreach, education, and assistance to employers and workers.
Organization
OSHA operates under the U.S. Department of Labor. The agency is led by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, who reports directly to the Secretary of Labor, a member of the President’s Cabinet. For a detailed view of OSHA’s structure, refer to the current OSHA Organizational Chart.
OSHA Coverage
The OSH Act applies to most private sector employers and employees, as well as certain public sector workers within all 50 states, and specific U.S. territories and jurisdictions under federal authority.
These jurisdictions include:
- District of Columbia
- Puerto Rico
- Virgin Islands
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Wake Island
- Johnston Island
- Outer Continental Shelf Lands (as defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act)