The Fact Book is produced by federal OSHA in Washington, D.C.

and is intended to report the progress of the Agencys safety programs and responsibilities. The OSHA data reported herein reect the federal government scal year (with the exception of injury and illness data), which runs from October through September of each year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data reported in this document reect calendar year.

OSHA FACT BOOK

Occupational Safety and Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor

December 2008 OSHA 3340

Letter from the Ofce of the Assistant Secretary

T he impact OSHA has made since Congress created this Agency through the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 has been remarkable. In a little more
than a third of a century, nonfatal occupational injury and illness rates have dropped 60 percent, while occupational fatality rates have fallen to the lowest annual total since 1992. Since OSHAs establishment, U.S. employment has doubled and now includes nearly 115 million private sector employees at over 8 million worksites. Although this signicant improvement in saving lives and protecting employees safety and health is a considerable achievement, greater progress is still needed. Even one fatality on the job is one too many, and every workplace injury or illness places a heavy burden on our nation. This Fact Book offers a measure of our resolve to make Americas workplaces a world model for safety and health. You will also nd information on federal OSHAs efforts to enforce standards, provide compliance assistance, offer the nest training and education in workplace safety and health, foster cooperative relationships with employers and employees, and play a national role in emergency preparedness. You can nd this Fact Book at www.osha.gov, along with a host of other online resources designed to help protect Americas working men and women. The more you learn about OSHA, the more you will see how OSHA adds value to business, work and life.

O S H A

F A C T B O O K

Charts and Tables

O S H A

F A C T B O O K

6 Rate of Fatal Work Injury, 1992-2007 7 Nonfatal Workplace Injury and Illness Rates, 1972-2006 8 Number of Employees Since 1970 14 Most Frequently Cited Standards, 2007 15 Federal Inspections, 1997-2007 16 State Plan Inspections, 1997-2007 17 2007 Inspection Compliance, Federal and State 18 Classes of Penalties 19 Federal Violations by Type, 1998-2007 19 State Violations by Type, 1998-2007 20 Top Ten Penalties Issued by Federal OSHA to Date 21 Fatal Injury Rates by Industry, 2007 22 2007 Inspections in Construction, Federal and State 24 Fatality Rates by Racial/Ethnic Status, 2000-2007 30 Calls to OSHAs 1-800 Number, 2002-2007 31 Subscriptions to QuickTakes, 2002-2007 31 Visits to OSHAs Web Site, 2002-2007 33 Participation in Cooperative Programs, 1998-2007 39 Outreach Participation, 1997-2007 40 Training Participation, 1997-2007 45 Whistleblower Protection Statutes to Date

Contents
Introduction...6
Creating OSHA: The OSH Act of 1970...10 OSHA at the Federal and State Levels...11
O S H A

Keeping Employees Safe Keeping America Strong...13

Setting Standards...14 Enforcement: Carrying Out OSHAs Mission...15 OSHA Enforcement in Construction...21

Focusing on Specic Employee Populations...23

Assisting Hispanic Employees...24 Teaming Up with Teens...27

Helping Employers Comply with the Law...28

OSHAs Compliance Assistance Resources...29 Cooperative Programs...32

F A C T B O O K

Key Initiatives...37
Focus on Training...38 Emergency Preparedness...41 Whistleblower Protection Program...44

Organization, Operations and Leadership...46

OSHAs Organization...47 Field Ofces...50 Assistant Secretaries...51

Introduction
O S H A

he rate of fatal work injuries reported in 2007 is the lowest ever reported by the fatality census.

Rate of Fatal Work Injury, 1992-2007

Rate of Fatal Work Injury (per 100,000 FTEs)

6.0
5.2 5.3 4.8 4.5 4.3 4.0 4.1 4.0

F A C T B O O K

5.0

4.0

3.7

3.0

2.0 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000

Year

2002

2004

2006 2007

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

declined 60 percent since the early 1970s.

The overall rate of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses has

Nonfatal Workplace Injury and Illness Rates, 1972-2006
15
Total Case Rate (per 100 FTEs)

O S H A

12 11.0 9 6 3 0 1972
8.8

F A C 4.2 T B O

1976

1980

1984

1988
Year

1992

1996

2000

2004 2007

O K

Source: Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor *2002 recordkeeping change

O S H A

t the same time, the number of private sector employees in the nation has continued to increase, nearly doubling since OSHA began.

Number of Employees Since 1970*

120
Number of Employees (in millions)
115 M

90
58 M

F A C T B O O K

60

30

0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Year

1995

2000

2005 2007

Source: Current Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor NOTE: *Private sector employees only.

stablished in 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has changed the safety and health culture in Americas workplaces. OSHAs mission is to assure the safety and health of Americas employees by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. Most working men and women in the nation come under OSHAs federal or State Plan jurisdiction with some exceptions, such as miners, some transportation employees, the self-employed and many public sector employees. To learn more, you are invited to visit www.osha.gov.

O S H A

F A C T B O O K

10

Creating OSHA: The OSH Act of 1970

O S H A

OSHA, an Agency of the U.S. Department of Labor, was established after Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the OSH Act) to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources. The OSH Act requires employers to comply with safety and health standards issued by OSHA, as well as with other regulations issued by the Agency. In addition, the Act requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. With few exceptions, the OSH Act covers most private sector employers and their employees in the 50 states and all territories.

F A C T B O O K

President Nixon signs the OSH Act.

11

OSHA at the Federal and State Levels

At the federal level, OSHA has approximately 2,100 employees which include inspectors, whistleblower investigators, engineers, physicians, educators, standards writers, and other technical and support personnel located at more than 100 ofces throughout the country. Federal Agency Programs Each federal agency (excluding the U.S. Postal Service) is responsible for establishing and maintaining an occupational safety and health program, according to the OSH Act. OSHAs Ofce of Federal Agency Programs provides guidance to each agency to implement an effective safety and health program and informs the President of the progress being made. State Plan Programs The OSH Act encourages states to develop and operate their own occupational safety and health programs. Under the Act, states with OSHA-approved State Plans must set workplace safety and health standards that are at least as effective as comparable federal standards. A state must conduct inspections to enforce its standards, cover public (state and local government) employees, and operate occupational safety and health training and education programs. OSHA approves and monitors State Plan programs and provides up to 50 percent of an approved plans operating budget.
O S H A

F A C T B O O K

12

O S H A

As of December 2007, 26 states and jurisdictions are operating OSHA-approved State Plans, 4 of which Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and the Virgin Islands cover only public employees.
AK

State Plans Federal OSHA

WA ME MT ID WY ND MN WI MI IA MO TN MS AL GA PA IL IN OH WV KY NC SC VA DE MD VT NY NH MA RI CT NJ

OR

F
CA

SD NE

A C T B
HI
Guam

NV

UT CO

KS OK

AZ

NM

TX

AR

LA FL
Puerto Rico

O O K
American Samoa

U.S. Virgin Islands

Most states adopt standards identical to federal standards. States also have the option of developing standards that differ from the federal standards or cover hazards not addressed by federal standards.

13

Keeping Employees Safe Keeping America Strong

O S H A

OSHA is responsible for ensuring the safety and health of

Americas working men and women at over 8 million worksites ofces, factories, shipyards, hotels, hospitals, construction, and other sites nationwide. Whether the issue is working in a noisy environment or a conned space, the Agencys focus is on the safety and health of employees. The Agency accomplishes its mission every day by setting and enforcing standards, offering cooperative programs, and providing technical assistance, outreach and training. OSHAs over 35 years of experience shows that businesses which are committed to safety and health tend to experience fewer injuries and illnesses, reduce costs and are generally more productive.

F A C T B O O K

14

Setting Standards
O S H A

OSHA establishes safety and health standards and regulations that employers are legally required to follow. Since 1970, OSHA has issued more than 100 safety and health standards. In general, OSHA standards require employers to maintain conditions which protect employees on the job; comply with standards applicable to their establishments; and ensure that employees use personal protective equipment when required. Businesses can be cited and ned if they do not comply with OSHA standards. The most frequently cited standards change slightly from year to year and are used to inuence OSHAs compliance assistance and outreach efforts, as well as to target industries for inspections. Visit www.osha. gov to learn more about these standards.
Most Frequently Cited Standards, 2007
1. Scaffolding 2. Fall Protection 3. Hazard Communication 4. Lockout/Tagout 5. Respiratory Protection 6. Powered Industrial Trucks 7. Electrical Wiring 8. Ladders 9. Machine Guarding 10. Electrical System Design

F A C T B O O K

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

15

Enforcement: Carrying Out OSHAs Mission

OSHA pursues a vigorous program of rm and fair enforcement to ensure compliance with safety and health requirements. When standards are violated, OSHA assesses penalties and seeks abatement of any hazards. In extreme cases, the matter may be referred to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation. The Agency focuses its inspections on the most hazardous workplaces and emphasizes thorough inspections. Federal OSHA unprogrammed inspections are conducted in response to alleged hazardous conditions, and include imminent dangers, fatalities/catastrophes, complaints and referrals. Programmed inspections are selected according to national scheduling plans for safety and health. Enforcement at the Federal Level
Federal Inspections, 1997-2007
40,000
39,798 39,324

O S H A

F A C T

Number of Inspections

37,500

36,394

OSHA exceeded its 2007 inspection goal of 37,700 by 4.3 percent.

B O O

35,000 34,264

K
32,500

30,000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

16

O S

Enforcement at the State Level Unlike federal OSHA, State Plans also cover state and local government employees.
State Plan Inspections, 1997-2007

H
60,000

59,290 56,623 57,380 54,982

A
Number of Inspections

55,000

State Plans deliver the OSHA program to 40 percent of the nations employers and employees.

F A C T B O O K

50,000

45,000

40,000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

17

Of the more than 39,000 inspections federal OSHA conducted in 2007, two-thirds of worksites were not in compliance with OSHA standards. This demonstrates the success of OSHAs programs which focus on employers and employees with the most injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
2007 Inspection Compliance, Federal and State
27.0% 73.0% 36.0% 64.0%
State Plans conducted an additional 57,000 inspections; 64 percent resulted in violations. In 2007, 73 percent of federal inspections resulted in violations.

O S H A

F A C T B O O

Federal

State

In Compliance

Not in Compliance

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

18

O S H A

Violations and Penalties When employers are found to be in violation of OSHA standards, they are issued citations. Many of these violations result in penalties. OSHA penalties can reach up to $70,000, depending on the type of violation and how likely the violation is to result in serious harm to employees.

Classes of Penalties
Willful: The employer intentionally and knowingly commits a violation. The U.S. Department of Justice may bring a criminal action against an employer whose willful violation of a standard results in death. Willful violations may have penalties as high as $70,000. A willful citation does not require a death. Repeated: OSHA nds a substantially similar violation during a reinspection within a three-year time frame. Repeat violations may have penalties as high as $70,000. Serious: Death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or could have known of the hazard. Serious violations may have penalties up to $7,000. Other-than-Serious: Directly related to job safety and health, but will not cause death or serious physical harm. Other-than-serious violations often carry no penalties, but may result in penalties of up to $7,000. Failure to Abate: An additional penalty of up to $7,000 per day for failure to correct a previously cited violation by the assigned abatement date.

F A C T B O O K

19

Federal and State Violations by Type

Federal Violations by Type, 1998-2007
Fiscal Yr 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Willful Repeat Serious Unclassied Other Failure to Abate 436 1,635 407 1,628 346 1,822 536 1,860 299 1,825 295 2,007 347 2,221 650 2,199 386 2,469 415 2,714

O Federal violations have increased due to improved inspection targeting which resulted in a rise in identied serious and repeat offenders. S H A

49,262 48,869 50,927 52,126 53,515 58,401 60,161 59,800 60,150 67,176 424 587 355 410 401 463 265 86 28 5

23,824 24,034 25,431 22,783 21,206 21,040 22,301 21,242 19,669 18,331 336 211 267 215 236 219 299 301 273 205

F A C T B O O K

Total 75,917 75,736 79,148 77,930 77,482 82,425 85,594 84,278 82,975 88,846 Violations

State Violations by Type, 1998-2007

Fiscal Yr 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Willful Repeat Serious Unclassied Other Failure to Abate 180 1,891 190 1,976 215 1,975 174 2,038 159 2,380 114 2,562 148 2,112 129 2,379 138 2,410 156 2,401

57,800 54,693 55,883 53,481 58,271 57,831 57,820 56,401 56,494 55,061 17 63 54 48 38 41 36 57 45 28

87,282 83,054 81,111 82,010 82,074 77,320 71,749 66,867 66,694 66,887 618 770 743 647 621 482 501 420 396 432

Total 147,788 140,746 139,981 138,398 143,543 138,350 132,366 126,253 126,177 124,965 Violations

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

20

O S H A

OSHAs safety and health inspection program is focused primarily on construction sites, industrial, and commercial establishments. Violation of OSHA standards can be very expensive to employers.

Top Ten Penalties Issued by Federal OSHA to Date

Company 1. BP Products North America, Inc.* 2. IMC Fertilizer/Angus Chemical 3. Imperial Sugar Co. 4. Samsung Guam, Inc. 5. Citgo Petroleum 6. Dayton Tire, Div. of Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. 7. USX (U.S. Steel Corporation) 8. Phillips 66 Co., Houston Chemical Complex 9. Hercules, Inc. 10. TPM/Macomber et al.
Penalty Issued
(in Millions)

Year

$21.3 $11.5 $8.7 $8.2 $8.1 $7.4 $7.1 $6.3 $6.3 $5.1

2005 1991 2008 1995 1991 1994 1990 1990 1993 1987

F A C T B O O K

*An explosion in 2005 claimed the lives of 15 employees and injured more than 170 at the Texas City renery of BP Products. The company was ned more than $21 million, the highest ne in OSHA history.

21

OSHA Enforcement in Construction

The industries with the highest fatality rates (per 100,000 workers) are agriculture, forestry, shing and hunting; mining; transportation and warehousing; and construction.
O S H

Fatal Injury Rates by Industry, 2007

27 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 25 Mining* 16 Transportation and Warehousing 10 Construction 0 10 20 30 40 50
Fatal Work Injury Rates (per 100,000 Workers)
Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor *In mining, only oil and gas are under the jurisdiction of OSHA.

F A C T B O O K

22

O S H A

Compared to other industries, serious hazards in construction result in a disproportionate number of fatalities. In 2006, the construction industry accounted for approximately 7 percent of U.S. employees and 21 percent of workplace fatalities. The higher injury, illness, and fatality rates in the construction industry have led OSHA to dedicate considerable attention and resources to protecting the industrys almost 11 million employees. Of the more than 39,000 inspections conducted by federal OSHA in 2007, more than 23,000 (59 percent) were in construction, while 26,000 (46 percent) of state inspections were in construction.
2007 Inspections in Construction, Federal and State

F A C T B O O K

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

23

Focusing on Specic Employee Populations

and circumstances, OSHA routinely identies hard-to-reach populations who may benet from specic programs and outreach efforts to reduce workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses.

O S H A

Based on special needs

F A C T B O O K

24

Assisting Hispanic Employees

O S H A

As a result of higher fatality rates and increasing numbers of work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities particularly in the construction industry Hispanic employees have been identied as one of OSHAs special emphasis populations.

Fatality Rates by Racial/Ethnic Status, 2000-2007

F A C T B O O K

8
Total Rate per 100,000 Workers 6.0

6
4.5

5.0

4.4

4
3.5

3.9

3.7

2 0 2000 2001 2002 Hispanic 2003 2004

Year

2005 Black

2006

2007

White

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

25

According to recent U.S. labor force statistics, 81 percent of Hispanic men and 57 percent of Hispanic women over age 16 who live in the U.S. work in the labor force many of these employees do not speak English as a rst language. OSHAs special emphasis programs for Hispanic employees focus on developing resources in their native language to facilitate their awareness of safety in the workplace. OSHAs Spanish-language website, OSHA en Espaol, at www.osha.gov, provides access to information and a wide range of compliance assistance resources for Hispanic employers and employees. Spanish-language publications are also available, including QuickCards and fact sheets on topics such as personal protective equipment, fall protection, trenching and excavation, and hazard communication. Hispanic employers and Spanish-speaking employees can call OSHAs toll-free number, (800) 321-OSHA, 24 hours a day to access a Spanish-speaking operator for compliance assistance information and other help. In addition, OSHA offers training and education programs to help Hispanic employers and employees improve their knowledge of safe and healthful work practices. OSHAs education centers, located throughout the U.S., offer numerous Spanish-language training courses, and OSHAs Resource Center Loan Program offers over 35 safety and health videos in Spanish.

O S H A

F A C T B O O K

26

O S H A

OSHA signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the Mexican Embassy to develop and disseminate information and provide training to Mexican employees. Activities in support of the agreement include:
Working with the 49 Mexican Consulates through OSHAs Alliance Program and other avenues to provide outreach assistance and training to Mexican employees and Consulate staff in the U.S. Participating in Mobile Consulate outreach training programs, which include distribution of OSHA Spanish-language publications and answering participants questions. Distributing 10,000 copies of Spanish-language promotional pieces focusing on construction and landscaping developed by the Mexican Embassy in 2007.

F A C T B O O K

27

Teaming Up with Teens

Protecting teenagers in the workplace is a priority for the Agency. OSHA protects employees regardless of age, but additional laws limit the types of jobs teens younger than 18 years old can work (administered by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor). Young employees between the ages of 14 and 24 are often employed at amusement parks, retail stores, restaurants and in construction, to name a few.
O S H A

F A

From 2003-2006, there were an average of 145 fatalities among employees under age 20 (BLS 2007). OSHA is striving to reduce work-related injuries among teenagers by educating them on how to integrate safety principles into their habits from their rst day on the job. In 2005, OSHA initiated a 5-year public awareness campaign to reach the 16 million teens who work during the summer months. The campaign has focused on landscaping and construction to date. Through this campaign, and an alliance with the national nonprot organization SkillsUSA, OSHA has a unique opportunity to help form safety and health habits that will protect these employees throughout their working lives.

C T B O O K

28

O S H A

Helping Employers Comply with the Law

OSHA works with employers,

F A C T B O O K

organized labor, associations and others to promote safety and health in the workplace. The Agency offers assistance services and programs at no cost. Through OSHAs Cooperative Programs, stakeholders have free access to OSHA expertise and resources, including on-site consultation programs and publications.

29

OSHAs Compliance Assistance Resources

The following are some of OSHAs resources to help employers and employees comply with OSHA requirements and prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. Compliance Assistance Specialists (CASs): Located in OSHA area ofces, CASs are a local resource available to respond to requests for information about OSHA standards and compliance assistance resources, hold seminars and educate stakeholders. eTools: eTools are interactive, Web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics accessible at www.osha.gov, where employers can nd best practices on a wide range of issues. OSHAs 1-800 Number: By calling toll-free to (800) 321-OSHA, employees and employers can receive timely answers to workplace safety and health-related questions. Employees and employers can also report accidents and unsafe working conditions. A Spanish-language option is available. Publications and Guidance Documents: OSHA has published many materials to help keep employers and employees current on the latest issues in workplace safety and health. QuickTakes: A twice monthly, electronic newsletter that highlights the Agencys latest activities.
O S H A

F A C T B O O K

30

O S H A

Small Business Assistance: OSHAs Ofce of Small Business Assistance provides outreach to small businesses to help establish safety and health programs and eliminate hazards. Use of OSHAs Compliance Assistance Resources Since 2001, OSHA has experienced a steady increase in demand for its resources. Increasingly, OSHA is recognized as The Resource for safety and health for Americas workforce.
Calls to OSHAs 1-800 Number, 2002-2007
200,000 180,000 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000
138,885

F A
Calls to 1-800 Number

C T B O O K

167,250

2002

2003

2004
Year

2005

2006

2007

31
Subscriptions to QuickTakes, 2002-2007
60,000
Subscriptions to QuickTakes

50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000

17,400

56,000

The e-newsletter, QuickTakes, has experienced a signicant increase in subscriptions since its launch in 2002.

O S H A

10,000

2002

2003

2004
Year

2005

2006

2007

F A

Visits to OSHAs Web Site, 2002-2007

Number of Visits to Web Site (Millions)

100 80 60 40 20
16.78

93.50

There was a 26 percent increase in 2007 visits, the largest in 5 years.

C T B O

0 2002 2003 2004

Year

2005

2006

2007

Source: Directorate of Information Technology, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

O K

32

Cooperative Programs
O S H A

OSHA would prefer to help a business prevent injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, rather than answer a single call about a workplace tragedy. Therefore, OSHA offers a number of opportunities for businesses and organizations to work cooperatively with the Agency. In addition to setting and enforcing standards, OSHA extends a helping hand by providing compliance assistance. A wide range of cooperative programs are tailor-made to help businesses and organizations improve their safety and health performance and provide recognition of their successes. Cooperative relationships among employers, employees, unions, trade and professional organizations and OSHA provide an effective way to reduce employee fatalities, injuries and illnesses. OSHA has several types of cooperative programs:

F A C T B O O K

Alliance Program OSHA Strategic Partnership Program (OSPP) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) On-Site Consultation Program and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)

33

Participation in Cooperative Programs, 1998-2007

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Alliances** SHARP Sites Partnerships** VPP Participants* Consultation Visits 437 25 486 455 42 578 413 85 705 353 125 807 10 396 167 104 699 206 240 789 211 350 411 456
The growing number of OSHA Cooperative Programs has a benecial impact on reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. O S H A

805 1,003 1,074 182 150 158

884 1,024 1,180 1,367 1,612 1,869

23,871 25,091 25,535 26,129 27,902 29,114 31,334 30,243 32,515 33,400

F A C T B O O K

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor *Federal and State **These gures represent cumulative totals.

Alliances Through the Alliance Program, the Agency works with groups committed to safety and health including businesses, trade/ professional organizations, unions and educational institutions to leverage resources and expertise; to develop compliance assistance tools and resources and to share information with employers and employees.

34

O S H A

The Alliance Program estimates that through working with participating organizations, OSHA is reaching more than 8 million employees and/or association members. On-site Consultation Program Through OSHAs On-site Consultation Program, the Agency offers free and condential advice to small and medium-sized businesses, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. Consultation services are provided by the states including State Plan states, to help employers identify and correct workplace hazards. A part of the Consultation Program is the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), which recognizes small and medium-sized employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Available in every state and U.S. territory, the Consultation Program conducts more than 30,000 on-site visits each year. In 2007, OSHAs on-site safety consultants and industrial hygienists identied over 160,662 hazards and removed almost 5 million employees from risk of exposure. Strategic Partnership Program The OSHA Strategic Partnership Program (OSPP) features collaborative agreements that commit OSHA and its partners to work cooperatively to address critical safety and health issues. The programs exible

F A C T B O O K

35

requirements enable participants to address unique safety and health issues related to their industry. Data collected shows: Partners reported a 92 percent increase in employee safety and health awareness, a 92 percent increase in improved relations with OSHA, and a 81 percent reduction in their injury and illness rates in 2006. In 2007, one federal agency reported a reduction in the number and severity of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) cases over a four-year period, resulting in savings of approximately $2 million in workers compensation and medical costs. Voluntary Protection Programs The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) promote effective worksite-based safety and health by setting performance-based criteria. The Agencys premier recognition program showcases employers who provide exemplary employee protection. Data collected shows: Participating businesses, on average, experience TCIR (Total Case Incident Rate) and DART (Days Away from work, Restricted work or job Transfer injury and illness) rates that are 53 percent and 49 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics average for their industry.

O S H A

F A C T B O O K

36

In 2006, VPP participants avoided approximately 6,400 Days Away Injury cases, saving these sites an estimated $243 million. OSHA has developed, implemented, and revised its four primary cooperative programs over many years to respond to the varied and changing needs of American employers, and to the labor organizations and trade associations that support their members and the American economy. Viewed as a whole, these programs provide opportunities and approaches that enable and encourage stakeholders to work with OSHA in a collaborative and proactive manner.

O S H A

F A C T B O O K

Key Initiatives

37

increasing emphasis on programs that keep employees safe.

OSHA will continue to place

O S H A

F A C T B O O

Training Emergency Preparedness Whistleblower Protection

38

Focus on Training
O S H A

The OSHA Training Institute (OTI) in Arlington Heights, IL, is a state- of-the-art training facility. OTI provides basic and advanced OSHA courses in safety and health for federal and state compliance ofcers, state consultants, federal agency personnel, and private sector employers, employees, and their representatives. More than 100 short-term courses and seminars covering OSHA standards, policies and procedures are conducted at the Training Institute. These courses are designed for individuals responsible for enforcing or directly supporting the Occupational Safety and Health Act. During 2007, OTI trained 3,544 students.

F A C T B O O K

5199 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

2003 - 4940 7328 2004 6492 2005 4423 2006 5081 2007 4469

7328 5081 4469 4940 3428 6492 3468 2013 3544 - 3428 4423 39 - 3468 5081 - 2013 4469 - 3544 4940 3428 3468 Outreach Training Program 2013 The Outreach Training Program is the Agencys primary source for 3544 O private sector employee training. During FY 2007, more than half

a million students were trained a program record. Through the program, those who complete a one-week OSHA trainer course are authorized to teach courses in construction or general industry safety and health hazard recognition and prevention. New outreach programs to serve maritime and disaster site workers have been created in the last few years.
Outreach Participation, 1997-2007
600,000
Number of Participants
522,248

S H A

F A

500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0

Outreach Training Program

C T B O O K

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
Source: Directorate of Training and Education, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

5199 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

O S H A

40

5199 5199 7328 6492 4423 7328 5081 4469 4940 3428 2003 - 4940 6492 3468 2013 3544 7328 2004 - 3428 4423 6492 2005 - 3468 5081 4423 2006 - 2013 4469 5081OTI Education 2007 - Centers 3544 4940 4469In addition, the OSHA Training 3428 Institute has established 26 OTI 3468 at 45 colleges, universities and other Education Centers (OTIECs) 2013 nonprot training organizations across the country to address the 3544

increased demand for its courses from the private sector and from other federal agencies. OTIECs primarily provide training for the private sector and are self-funded. OTIEC tuition and fees are used to support their OSHA training programs. During FY 2007, more than 27,000 participants were trained, representing an all-time high for the program.
Training Participation, 1997-2007
30,000
Number of Participants
27,346

F A C T B O O K

25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0

OTIECs OTI

3,544

Source: Directorate of Training and Education, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year

41

Emergency Preparedness
OSHA is one of the primary agencies of the federal government responsible for safeguarding employees during a national emergency. In this capacity, OSHA is the coordinating agency of the Worker Safety and Health Support Annex of the National Response Framework. During recent national emergencies, OSHA has been instrumental in preventing illnesses, injuries, and fatalities to responders, recovery teams, and cleanup crews. September 11, 2001 In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, OSHA and its State Plan partners dedicated more than 1,000 employees to work around the clock, seven days a week on the recovery effort. OSHA joined with the City of New York, construction contractors, labor unions and other government agencies in a pledge to recover the site with no further loss of life. Hurricane Katrina In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the other hurricanes of 2005, OSHA and its state partners deployed teams across 90,000 square miles spread over ve states to reduce exposure to hazards for response and recovery workers.
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F A C T B O O K

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O S H A

Minneapolis Bridge On August 1, 2007, a bridge collapsed on Interstate Highway 35 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Federal OSHA assisted Minnesota OSHA at the site to ensure that people engaged in emergency response public safety ofcials, investigators, and recovery and cleanup crews worked safely. California Wildres Federal OSHA worked closely with California OSHA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies in 2007 to protect the safety and health of responders. The Agency provided staff to help monitor the safety and health of operations, coordinate responder training, and collect air sample data and other exposure information.

F A C T B O O K

FEMA/Mark Wolfe

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Pandemic Inuenza For nearly three years, OSHA has been engaged in a national effort to prepare an effective, well-coordinated emergency response to a possible inuenza pandemic. To help prepare our nations workforce to meet the potential challenges of such a health emergency, OSHA has developed two major guidance documents on pandemic u. One addresses general industry practices; the other considers the specic needs of employees working in the healthcare industry.

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Whistleblower Protection Program

O S H A

F A C T B O O K

To help ensure that employees are free to participate in safety and health activities, Section 11(c) of the OSH Act prohibits any person from discharging or in any manner retaliating or discriminating against any employee because the employee has exercised rights under the Act. These rights include ling a safety or health complaint, participating in an OSHA inspection, and participating or testifying in any proceeding related to an OSHA inspection. An employee, or representative of an employee, who believes that he or she has been retaliated against in violation of the Act may le a complaint with the Agency. In addition, there are sixteen other federal statutes OSHA administers to protect employees from retaliation for reporting potential violations or engaging in activities related to commercial motor carrier, rail or public transportation agency safety or security, pipeline safety, air carrier safety, nuclear safety, the environment, asbestos in schools, consumer product safety and corporate fraud or securities laws. Each law requires that a complaint be led within a certain number of days after the alleged retaliation. In FY 2007, OSHA conducted 1,163 whistleblower investigations under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act. For the same time period, under the other whistleblower protection statutes, investigations were conducted as follows: STAA (269); SOX (238); the environmental statutes (CAA, CERCLA, FWPCA, SDWA, SWDA and TSCA) (55); AIR21 (46); ERA (26); PSIA (2); AHERA (2).

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Whistleblower Protection Statutes to Date

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) The National Transit Systems Security Act of 2007 (NTSSA), Section 1413 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 The Federal Rail Safety Act (FRSA), as amended by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 Section 6 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (PSIA) Section 806 of the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act of 2002 (CCFA) (Sarbanes-Oxley Act) The Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21) The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (AHERA) The Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), as amended by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) The Clean Air Act of 1977 (CAA) The International Safe Container Act of 1977 (ISCA) The Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1976 (SWDA) The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (ERA) The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 (SDWA) The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (FWPCA) O O K F A C T B O S H A

Each OSHA Regional Ofce has whistleblower investigators who are responsible for investigating cases under these statutes. In addition, the State Plans investigate employee complaints of retaliation under their state equivalents to Section 11(c) of the OSH Act.

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O S H A

Organization, Operations and Leadership

in occupational safety and health. The Agency seeks to nd and share the most effective ways to help prevent employee fatalities and workplace injuries and illnesses.

OSHA provides national leadership

F A C T B O O K

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OSHAs Organization
Enforcement Programs The Directorate of Enforcement Programs provides a balanced program for OSHA by coordinating the Agencys inspection and enforcement programs, and establishing and maintaining a comprehensive occupational safety and health compliance guidance and assistance program. Construction The Directorate of Construction develops workplace safety standards, guidance and outreach to ensure safe working conditions for the nations construction workers. Standards and Guidance The Directorate of Standards and Guidance contributes to ensuring safe and healthful working conditions in covered workplaces through development of workplace standards, regulations and guidance. Technical Support and Emergency Management The Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management supports other OSHA staff and the public by providing specialized technical expertise and advice to scientic, engineering and medical issues, and emergency preparedness and response.
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O S H A

Cooperative and State Programs The Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs coordinates OSHAs role in implementing consultation and cooperative programs, and coordinating the Agencys compliance assistance and outreach activities, as well as the Agencys relations with State Plan states. Training and Education The Directorate of Training and Education develops, directs, oversees, manages and ensures implementation of OSHAs national training and education policies and procedures. Evaluation and Analysis The Directorate of Evaluation and Analysis provides Agency-wide evaluation and analytic leadership and services in support of OSHA program, legislative, regulatory, statistical, and policy development activities. Administrative Programs The Directorate of Administrative Programs provides administrative management support to OSHA in the areas of personnel management, program budgeting and planning, nancial control and administrative management systems.

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Information Technology The Directorate of Information Technology provides a comprehensive, integrated information management, data collection and analysis, and network communications program for OSHA. Ofce of Communications The Ofce of Communications is responsible for media inquiries, publications development, exhibits and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Regional Administrators Regional Administrators plan, direct and administer a comprehensive occupational safety and health program throughout OSHAs 10 Regions.

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F A C T B O O K

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AK

Field Ofces
WA

O S H A

Regional Ofces

MT OR ND MN VT

ME NH MA RI

F A C T B O O K

ID Region I WY SD NY WI Boston, covering CT,* CA CT MI NV UT MA, ME, NH, RI, VT* CO NE IA NJ IL PA IN OH DE Region II DC WV KS MO MD VA AZ New York, covering KY NM NJ,* NY,* PR,* and VI* TX OK AR NC TN HI MS AL GA SC Region III LA Philadelphia, covering FL DE, DC, MD,* PA, VA,* WV Region IV Atlanta, covering AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC,* SC,* TN* Region V Chicago, covering IL, IN,* OH, MI,* MN,* WI Region VI Dallas, covering AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX Region VII Kansas City, covering IA,* KS, MO, NE Region VIII Denver, covering CO, MT, ND, SD, UT,* WY* Region IX San Francisco covering AZ,* CA,* HI,* NV* and American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands Region X Seattle, covering AK,* ID, OR,* WA*
Guam American Samoa Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands

Area Ofces

There are 85 local OSHA area ofces throughout the country that carry out a mix of programs enforcement, state program monitoring, compliance assistance programs, and training and education.
*Indicates OSHA-approved State Plans.

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Assistant Secretaries
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. John L. Henshaw Charles N. Jeffress Joseph A. Dear Gerard F. Scannell John A. Pendergrass Robert A. Rowland* Thorne G. Auchter Eula Bingham Morton Corn John H. Stender George C. Guenther
* Recess appointment

May 2006 - (2009) August 2001 - December 2004 November 1997 - January 2001 November 1993 - January 1997 October 1989 - January 1992 May 1986 - March 1989 July 1984 - July 1985 March 1981 - April 1984 April 1977 - January 1981 December 1975 - January 1977 April 1973 - July 1975 April 1971 - January 1973

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F A C T B O O K

Prepared by OSHAs Ofce of Communications