Issues
Funding OSHA & NIOSH
Every American worker deserves to go home safe at the end of the day. OSHA and NIOSH work hand-in-hand to make that a reality—protecting lives, supporting businesses, and driving economic growth.
Fact or Fiction?
Several myths and misconceptions exist regarding the impact of OSHA and NIOSH on worker safety and business competitiveness. Let’s cut to the chase.
Injury rates haven't declined since OSHA was created.
FICTION
Injuries have dropped 75% since OSHA's creation in 1971. Workplace deaths have dropped 60%.
Learn moreNIOSH research is theoretical and doesn't help workers.
FICTION
NIOSH research has saved thousands of firefighters, miners, roadway workers, healthcare workers, and more.
Learn moreOSHA inspections help workers and businesses.
FACT
OSHA inspections reduce workplace injuries 9.4%, and reduce worker compensation costs 26% (saving $355,000 per job site).
Learn moreThe respiratory protection market doesn't need NIOSH.
FICTION
Nearly 70% of international respirators fail to meet strict U.S. safety requirements upheld by NIOSH.
Learn moreIt would take OSHA a very long time to inspect every workplace just once.
FACT
186 years. That's how long it would take OSHA's 853 federal inspectors to visit each of the 11.5 million U.S. workplaces once. OSHA has one inspector for every 80,014 workers.
Learn moreOSHA's budget isn't a good return on taxpayer investment.
FICTION
American workplaces save $20B annually due to OSHA inspections, an ROI of over 3,000% relative to OSHA's budget.
Learn moreGet the Facts
Share Your Voice
Safe Workers Drive Our Economy Forward
A safe workforce drives our economy. Investing in safety saves lives and money: for every $1 invested in effective safety programs, businesses save $4 to $6 as illnesses, injuries, and fatalities decline. Workplace injuries cost the U.S. $167 billion annually, including $37.6 billion in medical expenses.
For over 50 years, OSHA and NIOSH have played a critical role in safeguarding American workers. These agencies ensure that employees can work safely in hazardous environments. Yet, despite their proven track record, OSHA and NIOSH face existential budget cuts that would put workers at risk and decrease business productivity. Now is not the time to scale back our country’s commitment to worker safety—an America First economy must have safe workers at its core.
A Call to Action for Lawmakers
Workplace safety is not a partisan issue—it is a fundamental necessity for a strong workforce and an America First economy. We urge Congress to make the right choice, fully funding OSHA and NIOSH so they can continue their critical missions of protecting American workers and securing the future of American industry.
OSHA Advances Safety & Productivity
Since 1971, OSHA has saved over 600,000 lives by enforcing workplace safety standards. OSHA inspections reduce injury rates by 9.4% and generate worker compensation cost savings of approximately $355,000 per workplace. Despite this proven track record of results for American workers and businesses, OSHA remains critically underfunded. With 1,875 inspectors for 11.5 million workplaces, it would take 186 years to inspect each workplace just once.
NIOSH Advances Safety Innovation
NIOSH fuels innovation in workplace safety. From respiratory protection standards to silica exposure controls, its research protects millions of workers and generates billions of economic benefit. For example, NIOSH’s research has led to innovative engineering controls that safeguard over 300,000 road construction workers from silica dust, new safety protocols that have been proven to reduce cancer risk for over 1 million firefighters, and new coal dust monitors that protect nearly 50,000 coal miners from deadly respiratory illnesses. Without NIOSH, American workers like these are significantly more likely to be injured or killed on the job.
