Occupational Safety and Health Administration's mission

OSHA's mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Since the agency was created in 1971, occupational deaths have been cut in half and injuries have declined by 40 percent.

Congress created OSHA under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed by President Richard M. Nixon on December 29, 1970.

In 1999, there were 5.7 million occupational injuries and illnesses among U.S. workers. Approximately 6.3 of every 100 workers experienced a job-related injury or illness, and 6,023 workers lost their lives on the job.