23 Free OSHA Safety Articles
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is the federal agency that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards in the United States. Created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, it requires most private employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards, backed by published standards, inspections, and citations. Understanding how OSHA works matters because good-faith compliance protects workers from serious injury and shields employers from penalties, work stoppages, and costly litigation.
The safety articles on this page explain what OSHA does and how to stay compliant. The OSHA articles cover what to expect when an inspector arrives, OSHA's top 10 most-cited violations, the General Duty Clause, recordkeeping and injury reporting, and the free help available through OSHA's on-site consultation program, Voluntary Protection Programs, and strategic partnerships. Other articles explain worker rights, whistleblower and anti-retaliation protections, training requirements, and whether small businesses are exempt.
Business owners and safety managers can use these articles to prepare for an inspection, build a compliant safety program, or brief your team on their rights and responsibilities. They are written for business owners, safety managers, and supervisors who need to understand OSHA without wading through the full text of the regulations.
Why it matters
OSHA compliance prevents injuries and costly penalties.
OSHA Safety Articles
OSHA FAQs
What is OSHA?
OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency within the U.S. Department of Labor that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards. Created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, it covers most private-sector employers and public-sector workers in states with their own OSHA-approved plans. OSHA's mission is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions through standards, training, outreach, education, and enforcement.
How does an OSHA inspection work?
An OSHA inspection is usually conducted without advance notice and follows a set order of priorities: imminent danger first, then fatalities and severe injuries, then worker complaints and referrals, then programmed inspections of high-hazard industries, and finally follow-ups. A typical visit includes the compliance officer presenting credentials, an opening conference, a walkaround, and a closing conference. Both the employer and workers may have a representative accompany the inspector during the walkaround.
What is the General Duty Clause?
The General Duty Clause is Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, which requires every employer to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA uses it to cite hazards when no specific standard applies. To prove a violation, OSHA must show a recognized hazard existed, that it was likely to cause death or serious harm, and that a feasible correction was available.
What rights do workers have under OSHA?
Workers have the right to a safe workplace and to speak up about hazards without being punished for it. That includes safety training in a language they understand, access to records of work-related injuries and illnesses, the results of hazard monitoring, and the ability to file a confidential complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace. Section 11(c) of the OSH Act protects workers from retaliation for exercising these rights, and a retaliation complaint must generally be filed within 30 days.
What are OSHA citations and penalties?
When OSHA finds a violation, it issues a citation identifying the violated standard, sets a deadline for correcting the hazard, and may propose a monetary penalty (fine). Penalty amounts vary based on factors such as the type and severity of the violation and are adjusted periodically. Employers may discuss a citation at an informal conference or formally contest it before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
What are OSHA's recordkeeping requirements?
Employers with more than 10 employees, unless they are in a partially exempt low-hazard industry, must record serious work-related injuries and illnesses on the OSHA 300 log, complete a 301 incident report, and post the 300A annual summary from February 1 to April 30 (OSHA 1904). Separately, all covered employers must report any work-related fatality to OSHA within 8 hours, and any inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within 24 hours.
