Established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA’s mission is “to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.” This topic area focuses on research determining the effectiveness of different OSHA-led enforcement activities in reducing the occurrence of workplace illnesses, injuries, exposure to hazards, and/or deaths.
OSHA Enforcement
Status: Literature reviewed in this topic area currently covers 1979 - 2012.
Synthesis Reports
Synthesis reports look at the research evidence across studies within a topic area. They also highlight gaps in the literature, and suggest areas in which further research is needed.
Recently Added
CLEAR searches the existing literature for research relevant to this topic area's focus. Browse the most recently reviewed research below.
Displaying 21 - 27 of 27
Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine changes in the effects of OSHA inspections and penalties on injury rates in manufacturing industries between 1973 and 1983. Although OSHA no longer operates as…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the effect of the introduction of OSHA regulation in 1971 on the severity and frequency of workplace injuries in manufacturing industries in New York. Although…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to determine the effect of Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) inspections on noncompliance with OSHA standards and the effect of noncompliance on lost-…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study had two objectives: (1) to examine the effect of OSHA citations on injuries (method 1) and (2) to examine the effect of changes in OSHA inspections on changes in days of work lost because…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the effect of OSHA inspections on injury rates in manufacturing and construction firms from 1976 to 1978. Although OSHA no longer operates as it did during this…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the effect of OSHA inspections on injury rates in manufacturing firms in 1973 and 1974. Although OSHA no longer operates as it did during this period, this study…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the effects of OSHA inspections and penalties at the industry level on workplace injuries between 1972 and 1975. Although OSHA no longer operates as it did…
CLEAR Icon Key
Below is a key for icons used to indicate important details about a study, such as its type, evidence rating, and outcome findings.
High Causal Evidence
Strong evidence the effects are caused by the examined intervention.
Moderate Causal Evidence
Evidence that the effects are caused to some degree by the examined intervention.
Low Causal Evidence
Little evidence that the effects are caused by the examined intervention.
Causal Impact Analysis
Uses quantitative methods to assess the effectiveness of a program, policy, or intervention.
Descriptive Analysis
Describes a program, policy, or intervention using qualitative or quantitative methods.
Implementation Analysis
Examines the implementation of a program, policy, or intervention.
Favorable
The study found at least one favorable impact in the outcome domain, and no unfavorable impacts.
Mixed
The study found some favorable and some unfavorable impacts in the outcome domain.
None
The study found no statistically significant impacts in the outcome domain.
Unfavorable
The study found at least one unfavorable impact in the outcome domain, and no favorable impacts.
Not applicable
Not applicable because no outcomes were examined in the outcome domain.
Favorable - low evidence
The study found at least one favorable impact in the outcome domain, and no unfavorable impacts. The study received a low causal evidence ratings so these findings should be interpreted with caution.
Mixed - low evidence
The study found some favorable and some unfavorable impacts in the outcome domain. The study received a low causal evidence ratings so these findings should be interpreted with caution.
None - low evidence
The study found no statistically significant impacts in the outcome domain. The study received a low causal evidence ratings so these findings should be interpreted with caution.
Unfavorable - low evidence
The study found at least one unfavorable impact in the outcome domain, and no favorable impacts. The study received a low causal evidence ratings so these findings should be interpreted with caution.