What organization sets the safety standards that contractors must follow in the workplace?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the organization responsible for establishing and enforcing workplace safety standards across various industries, including construction. OSHA, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, aims to ensure safe and healthy working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.

Contractors must adhere to OSHA regulations to minimize risks and protect workers from potential hazards on the job site. Compliance with these standards is not only a legal requirement but also critical for maintaining a culture of safety and reducing accidents and injuries in the workplace.

While other organizations contribute to workplace safety and standards—such as the National Safety Council, which provides training and education, the American National Standards Institute, which oversees the development of voluntary standards, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which focuses on measurement standards—they do not have the regulatory enforcement power that OSHA possesses. This makes OSHA the primary authority for setting mandatory safety standards that contractors must follow.