Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
USA
A federal agency of the Department of Labor charged with enforcing federal safety and health standards. It oversees and enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) by issuing regulations and holding employers responsible for violations through inspections and corrective action. OSHA also administers 17 federal whistleblower statutes (see the Office of the Whistleblower Protection Program (OWPP) .
For more information about OSHA and the OSH Act, see the OSHA website.
In addition to the federal OSHA, many states maintain their own job safety and health programs. These programs must be approved by OSHA and maintain the minimum standards of the federal OSH Act. OSHA also monitors these state plans.
For links to state occupational safety and health plans, State Occupational Safety and Health Plans. .
Practical Law Dictionary. Glossary of UK, US and international legal terms. www.practicallaw.com. 2010.