How does OSHA enforce its standards?

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, enforces its standards primarily through inspections. These inspections are conducted to ensure that workplaces comply with health and safety regulations set forth by OSHA. During an inspection, OSHA compliance officers evaluate the workplace for safety hazards, review safety protocols, and ensure that employers are following the necessary standards to protect workers.

Inspections can be initiated in response to employee complaints, referrals, or even as part of scheduled inspections in high-hazard industries. The outcomes of these inspections can lead to citations and penalties if violations are found, but the fundamental mechanism of enforcement stems from these physical evaluations of work sites. Other options, such as fines and penalties, follow as a result of what is uncovered during inspections but are not standalone methods of enforcing standards. Similarly, workplace audits and training programs are valuable components of a comprehensive safety strategy but do not constitute the direct enforcement mechanism that is central to OSHA's role.