Which agency is responsible for enforcing safety and health standards in the workplace?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly known as OSHA, is the agency tasked with enforcing safety and health standards in the workplace. Its primary mission is to ensure that employers provide a safe and healthful working environment for their employees. OSHA achieves this by setting and enforcing standards, providing training, outreach, education, and assistance to help employers and employees comply with workplace safety regulations.

OSHA conducts inspections to ensure compliance with safety and health regulations, investigates workplace accidents and complaints, and can issue citations and fines for violations. By promoting safe practices and professional health standards, OSHA plays a critical role in reducing workplace hazards and preventing injuries.

Other agencies may have roles related to health and safety, but they do not focus exclusively on workplace safety enforcement like OSHA does. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency focuses on environmental protection and regulation, while the National Safety Council is an organization that aims to promote safety but does not have regulatory authority. The Department of Labor oversees various labor-related issues, but OSHA is the specific branch focused purely on workplace health and safety standards.