U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration

November 2020
2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TAB 1: AGENCY ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW ........................................................ 1

TAB 2: STATE OF PLAY ...................................................................................................... 5

TAB 3: CALENDAR ............................................................................................................ 13

TAB 4: BUDGET.................................................................................................................. 14

TAB 5: AGENCY PERFORMANCE................................................................................... 18
TAB 1: Agency Organizational Overview

1

TAB 1: AGENCY ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Mission

With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety 

and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working 

men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, 

education and assistance. For more detailed information please visit www.osha.gov.

1

Authorizing Legislation

The OSH Act covers most private sector employers and their workers, in addition to some public 

sector employers and workers in the 50 states and certain territories and jurisdictions under 

federal authority. Those jurisdictions include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin 

Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, Johnston Island, and 

the Outer Continental Shelf Lands as defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. For more 

information please visit Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-

596).

2

 

Organizational Structure

OSHA has 1,865 authorized FTE that make up the agency’s Office of the Assistant Secretary, 

Office of Communications, 8 National Directorates and Offices and 10 Regional Offices. The 

Directorates of Administrative Programs, Construction, Cooperative and State Programs, 

Enforcement Programs, Standards and Guidance, Technical Support and Emergency 

Management, and Whistleblower Protection Programs, and the Office of Communications are 

located in Washington, DC. The Directorate of Training and Education is located in Arlington 

Heights, IL. The Regional Offices are located in Boston, MA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; 

Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Kansas City, KS; Denver, CO; San Francisco, CA; and 

Seattle, WA. 

 1 https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha

2 https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/completeoshact
TAB 1: Agency Organizational Overview

2

Organizational Chart
TAB 1: Agency Organizational Overview

3 

Workforce At-A-Glance 

Organizational Changes During the Past Four Years

• OSHA has focused on eliminating or consolidating office space in state plan states where 

work can be done efficiently in federal office space. The Indianapolis, IN; Lansing, MI; 

and Columbia, SC state plan offices were closed; and the Bellevue, WA was moved into 

the Seattle Regional Office and renamed the Washington Area Office. 

• The Region 9 and Region 10 consolidation has been approved by the Department but has 
TAB 1: Agency Organizational Overview

4

not yet been implemented.

• The agency has several SES vacancies and is actively recruiting to fill the positions.

Key Leaders 

• Vacant, Assistant Secretary

• Loren Sweatt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

• Amanda Edens, Deputy Assistant Secretary

• Krisann Pearce, Chief of Staff

• Francis Meilinger, Director, Office of Communications

• Kimberly A. Locey, Director, Directorate of Administrative Programs

• Scott Ketcham, Director, Directorate of Construction

• Douglas J. Kalinowski, Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs

• Patrick Kapust (Acting), Director, Directorate of Enforcement Programs

• Maureen Ruskin (Acting), Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance

• Lee Anne Jillings (Acting), Director, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency 

Management

• Robert Murphy (Acting), Director, Directorate of Training and Education

• Francis Yebesi (Acting), Director, Directorate of Whistleblower Protection Programs

• Galen Blanton, Regional Administrator, Region I

• Richard Mendelson, Regional Administrator, Region II

• Michael Rivera, Regional Administrator, Region III

• Kurt Petermeyer, Regional Administrator, Region IV

• William Donovan (Acting), Regional Administrator, Region V

• Eric Harbin, Regional Administrator, Region VI

• Kimberly Stille, Regional Administrator, Region VII

• Nancy Hauter (Acting), Regional Administrator, Region VIII

• Barbara Goto, Regional Administrator, Region IX

• Barbara Goto (Acting), Regional Administrator, Region X
TAB 2: State of Play

5

TAB 2: STATE OF PLAY 

Key Meetings, Decisions and Announcements

By end of November 2020

• Finalize rulemaking actions: Taxpayer First Act (TFA) – The TFA legislation, passed in July 

2019, protects employees against retaliation for providing information to their employer or 

the Federal government about underpayment of tax or any conduct which the employee 

reasonably believes constitutes a violation of the internal revenue laws or any provision of 

Federal law relating to tax fraud, or for engaging in other related protected activities. The 

Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing the whistleblower component of the 

legislation and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been accepting 

cases related to TFA since the legislation was passed. OSHA drafted an Interim Final Rule 

(IFR) that formalizes the process for complainants. The IFR is procedural, not substantive, 

and is on the Regulatory Agenda for completion by November 2020. Although not required, 

the IFR gives the public a 60-day comment period.

• Resumption of on-premises work. In March 2020, the federal government moved to a 

maximum telework posture in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA will be 

evaluating statewide metrics to inform decision on resuming on-premises work, in 

accordance with OSHA Return to Work Plan. (ongoing)

By end of January 2021 

• Submission of the FY 2022 Budget Justification.

• OSHA will begin collecting CY 2020 OSHA 300A data through the Injury Tracking 

Application on January 2, 2021. Data collected for CY 2019 will be made publicly available 

on OSHA’s website in mid-January.

• OSHA penalties will be updated to adjust for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index 

for All Urban Consumers.

By the end of March 2021

• Office of the Secretary approves Susan Harwood Grant funding opportunity 

announcements. OSHA submits Harwood package to OMB for approval.

• OSHA will provide input to key portions of the FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, which will 

be reviewed by the Office of the Secretary

Information Technology (IT) Modernization

The OSHA Information System (OIS) is a mission critical IT application that supports 

Enforcement and Compliance Assistance and serves as the case file management system used to 

manage more than 100,000 new enforcement safety and health inspections, consultation visits, 

training outreach activities, and cooperative program participants each year. OIS has 

approximately 4,000 federal and state users nationwide. In FY 2018, OSHA initiated a phased 

modernization effort to replace the existing OIS due to security vulnerabilities associated with 
TAB 2: State of Play

6

software reaching end of life/end of support as well as soaring licensing costs. OSHA has 

deployed 4 of the 7 modules as part of a phased modernization strategy and is on track to deliver 

two significant modules – Enforcement Core and Reports – in November 2020. OSHA is 

targeting a Go Live for a fully modernized OIS by July 2021.

Policy and Regulatory Issues 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Spring 2020 Regulatory Agenda 

https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_R

ULE_LIST¤tPub=true&agencyCode=&showStage=active&agencyCd=1200

COVID-19 Response

Enforcement

From February 1, 2020, to October 26, 2020, OSHA received a total of 11,041 complaints and 

referrals. As of October 26, 2020, OSHA has opened 1,133 COVID-related inspections 

including 666 opened because of fatalities. Through October 26, 2020, OSHA has issued 246 

COVID-related violations and 33 hazard alert letters regarding COVID hazards. The remaining 

investigations were made by phone/fax and rapid response investigations (RRIs), which allowed 

OSHA to maximize resources. These interventions often require quick responses and must be 

addressed using existing resources while continuing to conduct non-COVID-19-related activities. 

To address COVID-19 enforcement, OSHA developed new enforcement policies and 

discretionary memos, and trained OSHA staff on the new policies and how to implement them. 

Daily enforcement data is available on the website https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/covid-19-

data.

In many circumstances, OSHA is able to use its existing personal protective equipment, 

respiratory protection, sanitation, and recordkeeping standards to address COVID-19 

hazards. The agency may also use it authority under the General Duty Clause [section 5(a)(1) of 

the OSH Act]. These 5(a)(1) violations are generally subject to greater review, including with 

the Solicitor of Labor. As it has in the past with other unique hazards, OSHA is treating 

COVID-19 inspections as “novel” and is requiring the regions to send their citations to the 

National Office for review prior to issuance. However, due to the high volume of cases being 

sent (300+ and counting), OSHA has developed templates and inspection tools for the field to 

use that will standardize and streamline how citations are issued so that the more routine 

citations can be issued without coming to the National Office for review. The agency will 

continue this practice for the near future.

As states and localities continue to reopen and pandemic conditions vary across the country, 

OSHA faces challenges as it returns to normal operations, particularly with respect to 

enforcement of safety and health standards. OSHA has provided enforcement discretion around 

provisions of its respiratory protection standard and certain other requirements during the 

COVID-19 pandemic. The agency must balance a return to normal enforcement in some parts of 

the country with other locations continuing to have high rates of community spread of the virus 

and localized Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other supply shortages.
TAB 2: State of Play

7

Because of the restrictions associated with COVID-19, and the influx of complaints and 

referrals, overall inspection numbers are lower than normal. This is in part attributable to many 

businesses having been closed down (and thus not able to be inspected) during COVID-19 

lockdowns. For the foreseeable future, as businesses reopen, OSHA expects to continue 

receiving high numbers of COVID-19-related complaints.

Anti-Retaliation

OSHA began receiving COVID-19-related whistleblower complaints on February 18, 2020 and 

has received more than 3,249 new COVID-19-related complaints through October 26, 2020. 

This has resulted in a monthly increase of approximately 330 complaints in addition to OSHA’s 

usual whistleblower intake workload, resulting in more than 2,800 pending docketed September 

investigations – the highest number in program history. Daily whistleblower data is available on 

the website https://www.whistleblowers.gov/covid-19-data.

For the foreseeable future, as businesses reopen, OSHA expects to continue receiving high 

numbers of COVID-19-related complaints. OSHA has taken a number of steps to address its 

backlog of cases including an expansion of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process, 

an expedited case processing policy, and complaint intake and screening improvements. 

Compliance Assistance

During the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA has produced myriad guidance documents under short 

timeframes to address occupational exposure concerns. This guidance provides employers and 

employees with recommendations on how to protect worker health and safety, while ensuring 

consistency with other agencies and the overall US government response. The process of 

ensuring an “all of government response” has necessitated interagency agreement in the 

clearance process to support efforts to speak with one federal voice on worker safety and health 

guidance in the unique and evolving COVID-19 pandemic. These guidance documents are found 

on OSHA’s Coronavirus Safety and Health Topics webpage at www.OSHA.gov/coronavirus. 

On March 19, 2020 Congress enacted the ‘‘Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 

Act’’ or the ‘‘CARES Act’’ in which Title VIII of the Act provided for the Secretary of Labor to 

leverage funding targeted to the prevention, preparation, and response to COVID-19. A portion 

of this funding was allocated to OSHA for the development of resources to assist employers with 

their obligation to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for all of their workers during 

the reopening of operations while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. OSHA will produce new 

guidance materials for various industry sectors and processes that will complement and 

accommodate the US government’s three phase approach to COVID operating status as 

“Opening Up America Again” is rolled out to businesses to better adjust safety measures to local 

conditions. 

COVID-19 has impacted OSHA’s ability to complete the necessary evaluations to determine 

final acceptance into the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). Some sites have closed or are 

restricting outside persons, in addition to restricting the travel of their Special Government 
TAB 2: State of Play

8

Employees (SGEs) that normally assist during on-site evaluations. As a result, there will be a 

backlog of new approvals and reapprovals.

Rulemaking

COVID-19 has had a minimal impact on OSHA’s progress on its regulatory agenda. OSHA’s 

work on rulemakings has continued, such as revisions to the agency’s beryllium and hazard 

communication standards and finalization of the tree care small business panel and report.

Several groups petitioned OSHA to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for 

infectious diseases/COVID-19. In addition to petitioning the agency for an ETS, the AFL-CIO 

filed an emergency petition with the D. C. Circuit on June 11, 2020 for a writ of mandamus to 

compel OSHA to issue an ETS. The D.C. Circuit denied the petition. The Court noted that 

OSHA’s decision not to issue an ETS is “entitled to considerable deference,” and held that the 

Secretary’s determination that an ETS is not necessary at this time is reasonable given the 

unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the existing regulatory tools OSHA has 

available to ensure employers are maintaining hazard-free work environments.

Training

In FY 2020, the pandemic disrupted in-person classroom training and the OSHA Training 

Institute shifted resources to develop a series of virtual courses. OSHA has maintained the 

delivery of the required training programs for its compliance officers and whistleblower 

investigators in light of the challenges presented with maintaining social distancing during the 

pandemic. OSHA continues to pursue new instructional modalities that enhance learning 

delivery and retention, reduce dependence on centralized, in-person training programs and 

associated travel costs, and offer increased access to training opportunities.

Enforcement 

National Emphasis Programs (NEP)

OSHA develops national emphasis programs to focus outreach efforts and inspections on 

specific hazards in a workplace. All NEPs advance the Department of Labor’s strategic goals of 

ensuring safe and healthy workplaces and align with agency goals. NEPs can be developed to 

support OSHA’s annual operating plan, but can also be developed in response to an emerging 

hazard.

• Combustible Dust - OSHA Instruction - CPL 03-00-008, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-03-00-008 (March 11, 2008)

• Hazardous Machinery - OSHA Instruction - CPL 03-00-022, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-03-00-022 (December 10, 2019)

• Hexavalent Chromium - OSHA Instruction - CPL 02-02-076, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-02-076 (February 23, 2010)

• Lead - OSHA Instruction - CPL 03-00-009, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-03-00-009 (August 14, 2008) 
TAB 2: State of Play

9

• Primary Metal Industries - OSHA Instruction - CPL 03-00-018, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-03-00-018 (October 20, 2014) 

• Process Safety Management (PSM) - OSHA Instruction - CPL 03-00-021, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-03-00-021 (January 17, 2017) 

• Shipbreaking - OSHA Instruction - CPL 03-00-020, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-03-00-020 (March 7, 2016) 

• Silica, Crystalline - OSHA Instruction - CPL 03-00-023, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-03-00-023 (February 4, 2020) 

• Trenching and Excavation - OSHA Instruction - CPL 02-00-161, available at 

https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-00-161 (October 1, 2018) 

Site Specific Targeting (SST) 

In October 2018, OSHA launched the Site Specific Targeting (SST) 2016 Program (SST16), 

which resulted in 707 inspections during FY 2019. As a result of these inspections, 1,577 

violations were identified. OSHA experienced fewer “No Inspections” instances at these sites, 

as compared to other programmed inspections. The data revealed that the average number of 

violations identified and citations issued as a result of SST16 inspections were comparable to 

those issued as a result of other emphasis programs. A revised SST program is in the final stages 

of clearance, and will likely be issued in the first quarter of FY 2021. Based on OSHA’s 

enforcement experience with the SST16, the revised SST will likely include a new targeting 

category for sites with upward-trending DART rates during CY 2017-2019. Additionally, the 

revised SST will allow for changes to the scope of an inspection from “comprehensive” to 

“records only” in limited situations.

Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP)

On June 18, 2010, OSHA instituted the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) to more 

effectively focus enforcement efforts on recalcitrant employers who demonstrate indifference to 

the health and safety of their employees through willful, repeated, or failure-to-abate violations 

of the OSH Act. SVEP increases focus on the most severe OSHA violators, leveraging 

enforcement actions to minimize those workplace hazards most likely to lead to injuries, 

illnesses, and death. 

At the end of third quarter FY 2020, OSHA’s Regions reported over 549 SVEP cases, with 65 

percent being construction-related. Nineteen inspections in the general-industry sector were the 

result of SVEP-referral inspections, some of which resulted in additional SVEP inspections, 

highlighting the greater impact the program can have for the American worker.

Recordkeeping 

In June 2016, OSHA published its final “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” 

rule. This rule required employers in certain industries to electronically submit injury and illness 

data to OSHA. The rule also amended OSHA's recordkeeping regulation to update requirements 

on how employers inform employees to report work-related injuries and illnesses to their 

employer and clarified the existing implicit requirement that an employer's procedure for 
TAB 2: State of Play

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reporting work-related injuries and illnesses must be reasonable and not deter or discourage 

employees from reporting. Originally, employers with 250 or more employees were required to 

submit both summary injury and illness information and case specific information, but in January 

2019, OSHA amended the rule to require only summary data from all covered employers and to 

require employers to submit their Employer Identification Number (EIN) electronically along 

with their injury and illness data. Data is collected for the previous calendar year from January 2 

through March 2. There have been several legal challenges to both the 2016 and 2019 final 

rules on recordkeeping. To date the courts have not issued a ruling. Several groups requested the 

data collected under this rule under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). OSHA initially 

treated the submitted data as confidential and denied the FOIA requests. However, the agency 

was sued, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia entered an order requiring that 

OSHA to provide the data to the plaintiffs. In addition to providing data to the plaintiffs, the 

OSHA is posting the data on its public web page.

In December 2016, OSHA published its final “Clarification of Employer's Continuing Obligation 

to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness” rule. This 

rule was issued in response to a judicial ruling known as the “Volks” decision (AKM LLC d/b/a 

Volks Constructors v. Sec’y of Labor, 675 F.3d 752 (D.C. Cir. 2012)). In that decision, the 

Court of Appeals ruled that OSHA could not issue citations for failing to record an injury or 

illness beyond the six-month statute of limitations set out in the statute. OSHA’s rule was meant 

to clarify an employer’s duty to record an injury or illness continues for as long as the employer 

must keep records of the recordable injury or illness (5 years); and to establish that the duty does 

not expire just because the employer fails to create the necessary records when first required to 

do so. On March 22, 2017, the U.S. Senate voted 50-48 to adopt H.J. Res 83, nullifying this rule. 

Audits 

The following OIG audits are currently ongoing: 

• Inspection Process Audit, Audit of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 

(OSHA) Complaint Inspection Process (August 2020) 

• OSHA’s Enforcement Efforts to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Silica 

(February 2020) 

• COVID-19, OSHA’s Efforts to Protect Workers Exposed to COVID-19 (April 2020)

• Whistleblower Region IX, Audit of Whistleblower Protection Programs in Region IX 

(August 2018)

The following OIG audits were closed within the past two years; however, recommendations 

remain open:

• COVID-19 Whistleblower: OSHA needs to improve its handling of whistleblower 

complaints during the pandemic, available at 

https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/2020/19-20-010-10-105.pdf (August 2020)

• Audit Review of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Referral to and 

Reclamation of Debt from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, available at 
TAB 2: State of Play

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https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/viewpdf.php?r=22-20-006-10-001&y=2020

(October 2019) 

• OSHA Procedures for Issuing Guidance Were Not Adequate and Mostly Not Followed, 

available at https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/viewpdf.php?r=02-19-001-10-

105&y=2019 (March 2019) 

• OSHA Needs to Improve the Guidance for its Fatality and Severe Injury Reporting 

Program to Better Protect Workers, available at 

https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/viewpdf.php?r=02-18-203-10-105&y=2018

(September 2018)

Key Agency Stakeholders

OSHA Advisory Committees

• Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH): The ACCSH is 

an advisory body established by statute that provides advice and assistance in 

construction standards and policy matters to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 

Occupational Safety and Health.

• Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH): 

The MACOSH is a committee established on February 8, 1995, and revised on December 

20, 2019, that is authorized by the OSH Act to advise, consult with, and make 

recommendations to the Secretary of Labor through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 

Occupational Safety and Health on matters relating to the maritime industry.

• National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH): The 

NACOSH was established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to 

advise the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services on occupational safety 

and health programs and policies. Members of the 12- person advisory committee are 

chosen on the basis of their knowledge and experience in occupational safety and health.

External Stakeholders

• American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO): 

The AFL-CIO represents 56 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 

million working people.

• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA): The AIHA is a nonprofit 

organization devoted to achieving and maintaining the highest professional standards for 

its members. More than half of the nearly 10,000 members are certified industrial 

hygienists (CIHs) and many hold other professional designations. AIHA administers 

comprehensive education programs in the field of industrial hygiene to occupational and 

environmental health and safety professionals. 

• American Public Health Association (APHA): The APHA works to strengthen the 

public health profession and address public health issues and policies backed by science. 

• American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE): The ASSE promotes the expertise, 

leadership, and commitment of its members, while providing them with professional 
TAB 2: State of Play

12

development, advocacy, and standards development. The Society is also a visible 

advocate for OSH professionals through proactive government affairs at the Federal and 

state levels and in member-led relationships with key Federal safety and health Agencies.

• Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association (OSHSPA): The OSHSPA is 

an organization of 28 states and territories that have OSHA-approved state plans.

OSHSPA representatives meet three times a year to exchange information and address 

shared concerns. OSHSPA representatives also appear before congressional committees 

and other hearings to report on workplace safety and health matters.

• National Association of Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Programs 

(OSHCON): The mission of OSHCON is to “provide a united voice to address issues 

and challenges that face OSHA consultation programs nationwide.” The goals and 

objectives of OSHCON are:

o To enhance the ability of State safety and health consultants to provide quality 

services to employers.

o To foster cooperation and consistency among State consultation programs.

o To assure that the unique needs of small businesses are considered in all 

legislation and regulations that address worker safety and health.

o To provide a forum for the exchange of information concerning occupational 

safety and health consultation.

• National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH): The NCOSH is a 

federation of local and statewide "COSH" committees and coalitions on occupational 

safety and health. COSH groups are private, non-profit coalitions of labor unions, health 

and technical professionals, and others interested in promoting and advocating for worker 

health and safety. 

• National Safety Council (NSC): The NSC saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths 

at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, 

education, and advocacy.

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest 

business organization, representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all 

sizes, sectors, and regions.

• Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association, Inc. (VPPPA): The VPPPA 

is comprised of a global community of dedicated safety and health professionals 

empowering occupational safety culture across more than 50 industries. VPPPA is the 

leading organization committed to occupational safety, health, and environmental 

management systems and has created a complex network of cooperation between 

companies, OSHA, State OSHA leaders, members of congress, and Department of 

Energy. 
TAB 3: Calendar

13

TAB 3: CALENDAR

Advisory Committee Meetings

• OSHA schedules the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health, which

meets twice a year.

• OSHA schedule the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, 

which meets twice a year.

• OSHA schedules the Maritime Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health,

which meets twice a year.

Other Calendar Items

• OSHA participates in the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association 

(OSHSPA) meetings, which meet three times a year.

• OSHA participates in OSHSPA Board Meetings, which meets three times a year (note: 

during COVID the OSHSPA Board is meeting more frequently).

• OSHA schedules the Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Conference 

(OSHCON), which meets once every other year.

• OSHA schedules the Joint Federal Steering Committee/OSHCON Board Meeting, which

meets twice a year.

• OSHA schedules the Directorate of Whistleblower Protection Programs Stakeholders 

Meeting, which meets quarterly.

• OSHA schedules the Directorate of Safety and Guidance Stakeholders Meeting, which

meets twice a year usually in October and May.

Event Date

OSHA will begin collecting CY 2020 OSHA 300A data through the Injury 

Tracking Application

January 2, 2021

Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association (OSHSPA) meeting February 9-10, 

2021

Office of the Secretary approves Susan Harwood Grant funding opportunity 

announcements. OSHA submits Harwood package to OMB for approval.

March 2021

Worker Memorial Day April 2021
TAB 4: Budget

14

TAB 4: BUDGET

Budget Authority and FTE Summary

(Dollars in millions)

FY 2017

Enacted

FY 2018

Enacted

FY 2019

Enacted

FY 2020

Enacted

FY 2021

Request

Budget Authority $552.8 $552.8 $557.2 $581.2 $576.8

FTE 1,995 1,923 1,911 1,865 1,896

At-A-Glance

• In FY 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is funded 

through an annual appropriation of $581.2 million with approximately $108.6 million 

required to be made available for State grants. OSHA consists of ten budget activities. 

Budget and FTE Trends

• OSHA received an increase of $45.6 million in FY 2010 to increase its appropriation to 

$558.6 million. Funding was flat in FY 2011, and OSHA received a $6.2 million 

increase in FY 2012 before being reduced $29.6 million by sequestration in FY 2013. 

OSHA did not receive a full restoration of sequestered funding in FY 2014, and funding 

remained flat at $552.7 million from FY 2015 to FY 2018. OSHA received a $5 million 

increase in FY 2019 to increase its budget to $557.8 million. OSHA transferred $0.6 

million to Departmental Management to fund the transfer of OSHA Human Resources 

(HR) staff to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management

(OASAM) in FY 2019, leaving the agency with a revised enacted funding level of $557.2 

million. 

• OSHA received an increase of $24.0 million in FY 2020, increasing the agency’s 

appropriation to $581.8 million. Approximately $12.7 million of this was for its Federal 

Enforcement budget activity. State Grants received an increase of $6.2 million, State 

Consultations an increase of $2.0 million, and Harwood Grants an increase of $1.0 

million. The remainder of this increase was for Federal Compliance Assistance and 

Whistleblower Programs. OSHA again transferred $0.6 million to Departmental 

Management in FY 2020, reducing the revised enacted level to $581.2 million.

• OSHA is requesting $576.8 million in FY 2021, $4.4 million below the FY 2020 enacted 

level and $19.6 million above the FY 2019 revised enacted level. 

• OSHA’s Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) usage increased in FY 2010 and FY 2011, as the 

agency had received a funding increase for additional enforcement and standards staff in 

FY 2010. FTE usage has declined each year since FY 2011, when OSHA used 2,273 

FTE, as the agency has been unable to hire enough staff to keep up with attrition. In 

recent years, OSHA has been forced to reduce FTE along with implementing a mix of 

hiring delays and freezes due to flat funding, sequestration, absorbing inflation and 

increased Departmental assessments. OSHA is requesting 1,896 FTE in FY 2021.
TAB 4: Budget

15

• OSHA received $13.6 million in funding from the worker protection pool included in the 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) stimulus bill. This funding 

expired in FY 2010. In addition, OSHA received approximately $2.3 million in 

supplemental funding for the Superstorm Sandy Supplemental in FY 2013 to fund 

disaster response activities. In FY 2020, OSHA received a transfer of $5.5 million from 

funding provided to Departmental Management under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and 

Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to fund activities related to COVID-19 response.

• Under sequestration in FY 2013, OSHA reduced compensation and benefits expenditures 

through a hiring freeze and the elimination of performance awards. OSHA achieved 

additional savings by reducing contracts, travel, equipment purchases, printing, supplies, 

and PCS moves. OSHA also moved $10.9 million from Federal Compliance Assistance 

to Federal Enforcement to maintain its enforcement presence. 
TAB 4: Budget

16
TAB 4: Budget

17
TAB 5: Agency Performance

18

TAB 5: AGENCY PERFORMANCE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s mission is to reduce occupational 

injuries, illnesses, and deaths. One effort supporting this mission is training both internal and 

external stakeholders. The number of people trained by OSHA increased between FY 2018 and 

FY 2019, however for FY20 due to COVID-19, the ongoing and necessary use of remote/virtual 

platforms has created challenges for effectively reaching large numbers of employers reached. 

The agency estimates over an 18 percent reduction in the number of employers and workers 

reached by compliance assistance staff through training, and a similarly reduction in other 

outreach activities. 

OSHA reports the number of trenching and excavation hazards abated, which is OSHA’s Agency 

Priority Goal (APG) for FY 2019 – FY 2021. The current number for FY20 is an estimate. 

Actual totals will be provided when available later in the quarter. 

1,179,551

1,627,368

1,336,246

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

1,800,000

FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020

Number of people trained by OSHA

2,338 2,324

2,710

1,923

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY2020

Number of trenching and excavation hazards abated 

(Agency Priority Goal)
TAB 5: Agency Performance

19

OSHA sets safety and health standards and conducts investigations, technical assistance, and 

outreach to ensure compliance. Upon receipt of a worker complaint, the agency has set a target 

of initiating inquiries within one working day, or an on-site inspection within five working days.

The current number for FY20 is an estimate. Actual totals will be provided when available later 

in the quarter.

OSHA also protects workers’ rights by enforcing 23 whistleblower laws, including Section 11(c) 

of the OSH Act, ensuring that workers can exercise their legal rights and identify problems in 

their organizations without fear of retaliation.3

 OSHA has steadily increased the number of 

completed docketed whistleblower investigations, with an estimated 3,114 docketed 

investigations completed in FY 2019, compared to 2,744 in FY 2012. This increase occurred 

despite expanded use of administrative closure procedures starting in FY 2018. These procedures 

allow OSHA to focus resources on the complaints most worthy of investigation (i.e., docketed), 

resulting in increased program efficiency, slightly lowering the number of completed docketed 

whistleblower investigations, despite an increase in overall complaint processing (more than 

9,000)4. 

 3 The other 22 whistleblower statutes enforced by OSHA protect employees from retaliation for reporting violations 

of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health 

insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, securities, 

and tax laws.

4 6,018 were administratively closed including 345 complaints that would have been docketed under the old 

procedure.

96%

97%

95%

94%

93%

94%

95%

97%

95%

97%

98% 98% 98% 98% 98%

90%

91%

92%

93%

94%

95%

96%

97%

98%

99%

FY

2006

FY

2007

FY

2008

FY

2009

FY

2010

FY

2011

FY

2012

FY

2013

FY

2014

FY

2015

FY

2016

FY

2017

FY

2018

FY

2019

FY

2020

Percent of worker complaints that have an inquiry initiated 

within one working day or an on-site inspection initiated 

within five working days
TAB 5: Agency Performance

20

1,951

2,744

3,083 3,146 3,273 3,307 3,348

2,929

3,091 3,114

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020

Whistleblower investigations completed