The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Impact on Employers: What Worked and Where to Go From Here

When the OSH Act of 1970 was passed, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for employees. OSHA did so by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, and education.Early standard setting was aggressive and ambitious, with the incorporation of industry consensus standards and the promulgation of new standards. OSHA's standard setting and enforcement sparked increased membership in safety and health professional organizations, which in turn led to strong demand for obtaining safety or health certification. Additionally, this growth drove the development of a wide variety of safety and health products, in effect creating a new market. Vendors used OSHA standards and enforcement to motivate sales.