What is the purpose of OSHA?

• A. To inspect every workplace daily.
• B. To enforce the Occupational Health and Safety Act with general regulations.
• C. To enforce the Occupational Health and Safety Act and establish safe work practices.
• D. To regulate wage levels for safety compliance.

Answer: (C)

OSHA exists to ensure safe and healthy workplaces by enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act and by establishing safe work practices. It does this by setting and enforcing standards for workplace hazards and by providing training, outreach, and assistance to employers and workers. The best answer captures both parts of OSHA’s role: enforcing the Act and establishing safe work practices that guide day-to-day safety. The idea of inspecting every workplace daily isn’t how OSHA operates—inspections are targeted and based on risk, complaints, or incidents. Merely citing general regulations misses the broader goal of actively establishing and promoting safe work practices. Regulating wages is outside OSHA’s safety mandate.