Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Ensures safe and healthful working conditions
Key Regulations
Occupational Safety and Health Standards — General Industry
Comprehensive workplace safety standards covering hazard communication, PPE, machine guarding, and more.
Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom)
Requires employers to inform workers about hazardous chemicals through labels, safety data sheets, and training.
Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
Requires procedures to disable machinery during maintenance to prevent workers from being injured by unexpected startup.
Fall Protection in Construction
Requires fall protection for construction workers at heights of six feet or more.
Respiratory Protection
Requires employers to provide and maintain a respiratory protection program when workers are exposed to airborne hazards.
Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
Requires employers to record and report work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
Enforcement Actions
OSHA Citations Against Amazon — Warehouse Safety Violations
Respondent: Amazon.com Services LLC
OSHA issued hazard alert letters and citations to Amazon fulfillment centers in multiple states following inspections that found the company exposed workers to ergonomic hazards leading to serious inj...
Outcome: Citations and fines; required corrective measures; ongoing OSHA monitoring.
OSHA v. Imperial Sugar Company — Combustible Dust Explosion
Respondent: Imperial Sugar Company
OSHA issued citations and proposed penalties of $8.8 million against Imperial Sugar Company following a massive combustible dust explosion at its Port Wentworth, Georgia refinery that killed 14 worker...
Outcome: $8.8M in proposed penalties; 12 willful violations cited; spurred combustible dust regulation efforts.
OSHA v. Didion Milling — Grain Elevator Explosion
Respondent: Didion Milling, Inc.
OSHA cited Didion Milling with $1.8 million in proposed penalties following a corn mill explosion in Cambria, Wisconsin that killed five workers and injured 15 others. The May 2017 explosion destroyed...
Outcome: $1.8M in penalties; 18 willful violations; criminal charges against executives.
OSHA Warning to Healthcare Facilities — COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Respondent: Multiple Healthcare Facilities
OSHA issued warning letters and hazard alert letters to healthcare facilities across the country that failed to adequately protect workers from COVID-19 exposure. The warnings addressed failures inclu...
Outcome: Warning letters issued; limited citations and penalties; renewed calls for infectious disease standard.