Occupational Safety and Health Act of

 1970 (OSH Act)

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970created the Occupational Safety and Health

 Administration to help employers and employees reduce injuries, illnesses and deaths on 

the job in America. Since then, workplace fatalities have been cut by more than 60 percent 

and occupational injury and illness rates have declined 40 percent.  OSHA provides 

national leadership in occupational safety and health. The agency seeks to find and share 

the most effective ways to help prevent worker fatalities, and prevent workplace injuries 

and illnesses.

When employees stay whole and healthy, businesses also benefit. They experience lower 

workers' compensation insurance costs, reduced medical expenditures, decreased payout 

for return-to-work programs, fewer faulty products, and lower costs for job 

accommodations for injured workers. There are also indirect benefits such as increased 

productivity, lower costs for training replacement workers and decreased costs for 

overtime.

OSHA's Role

Significant hazards and unsafe conditions still exist in U.S. workplaces. The following are 

some riveting statistics:

• Nearly 5,200 Americans die from workplace injuries in the private sector;
• As many as 50,000 employees die from illnesses in which workplace exposures were a contributing factor;
• Nearly 4.3 million people suffer non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses;
• The cost of occupational injuries and illnesses totals more than $156 billion.

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