What is the role of OSHA in workplace safety?

The role of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in workplace safety primarily focuses on ensuring safe and healthful working conditions by enforcing standards. This involves establishing regulations and guidelines that employers must follow in order to protect their employees from various hazards in the workplace.

OSHA has the authority to create and enforce these safety standards, which cover a wide range of topics, including chemical exposure, machine safety, fall protection, and respiratory protection, among others. By enforcing compliance with these established standards, OSHA aims to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, thereby fostering a safer working environment for all.

While the agency may conduct workplace inspections as part of enforcing these standards and may also be involved in the certification of certain training programs, its core mission revolves around developing and enforcing regulations to protect workers. Providing funding for safety equipment is not a direct role of OSHA, as its primary focus is not on financial support but on regulation and enforcement.