Occupational Safety and Health

Every year an estimated 1.7 million workers suffer disabling on-the-job injuries; 10,500 of these workers die as a result of their injuries. In addition, 390,000 cases of occupational illnesses are diagnosed and 100,000 workers die each year as a result of work-related illnesses. A 1991 industrial fire that killed 25 workers and injured more than 50 others renewed debate about whether the U.S. approach to ensuring workplace safety and health could be improved. The NAFTA negotiations have focused attention on how workers are protected in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This fact sheet (1) compares the U.S. and Canadian programs for ensuring workplace safety and health and (2) identifies issues to consider in improving safety and health in the United States.

GAO found that: (1) ensuring workplace safety is a federal responsibility in the United States, but is a provincial responsibility in Canada; (2) Canadian provinces link programs for preventing and compensating for work-related injuries and illnesses; (3) Canadian employers directly fund health and safety programs; (4) Canadian laws mandate employer and worker responsibility and accountability for safety and health issues; (5) there is a greater enforcement presence and potential for immediate response to hazardous situations in Canada; and (6) differences to consider in evaluating U.S. programs include the programs' relative sizes, workforce organization, the potential for litigation, and constitutional issues.