Which federal agency is primarily concerned with workplace safety?

• A. World Health Organization (WHO)
• B. American Heart Association
• C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Answer: (D)

Workplace safety is governed by a federal agency that writes and enforces standards to protect workers from hazards. This agency is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, which operates under the Department of Labor and was created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Its role is to reduce injuries, illnesses, and deaths on the job by setting workplace safety standards, providing training and outreach, and inspecting workplaces to ensure compliance. When safety problems occur, OSHA can require corrective actions and can issue penalties to enforce safe practices. This focus on how work is conducted safely—covering areas like fall protection, machine guarding, electrical safety, hazard communication, and the use of personal protective equipment—is why it’s the correct choice for workplace safety.

The other options don’t fit because WHO is an international health organization that advises on health issues globally rather than enforcing workplace safety standards in the United States; FDA regulates foods, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and related products; and the American Heart Association is a nonprofit focused on cardiovascular health and public education, not regulatory safety enforcement in workplaces.