Social Actor # 3 - Government

History has shown the need for governmental involvement in occupational safety and health. Although most employers strive to provide a safe and healthy work environment, this is not the case within all workplaces. Fierce economic pressure may undercut even the most responsible employers and persuade them to overlook certain OSH obligations. The need for government oversight of OSH becomes crucial in this situation.

Several regulatory groups have been established to ensure the protection and well-being of American workers.

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or "OSHA" is the federal governing body for workplace safety in the United States.
• The Mine Safety and Health Administration or "MSHA" serves a similar role to OSHA, but with a specific focus on the mining industry.
• The Environmental Protection Agency or "EPA" focuses on the protection of both human health and the environment.

All of these groups have been granted the authority to develop mandatory compliance standards and to enforce these standards through a penalty system.

Factors Impacting Government Regulation of OSH

Due to conflicting interests, the government is often placed in a difficult position when it comes to the regulation of occupational safety and health. Some factors that may impact regulation are discussed below:

Cost Members of the public usually want greater workplace protections put into place, but industry will naturally resist most attempts to create additional regulatory obligations due to cost considerations. Government regulators thus may be caught between public pressure to intervene in OSH and potential impacts upon the economy.

Control The struggle for safe working conditions can also raise issues of control over the workplace. There is a strong sense of "private property" within the United States and this mindset can extend to how employers feel about government oversight of OSH. While other countries may be more open to government intervention, many US employers strongly object to regulatory groups not only dictating how they should best protect their employees, but also possessing the ability to enter their workplaces and assess their efforts.

Politics Momentum shifts between Republican and Democratic presidential administrations are another important social aspect of government involvement in OSH. Republican administrations are typically viewed as being "pro-business" while Democratic administrations are often perceived as being "pro-labor." Shifts in political power may influence not only how much emphasis is placed on creating new OSH legislation, but also how compliance with existing legislation is assessed by the government.

In recent years, Republican leadership has emphasized the need for certain regulatory groups to "partner" with industry using a non-punitive approach. In contrast, Democratic administrations have tended to rely more on enforcement activities as a means of ensuring employers meet their compliance obligations.