Standards Comparison

    OSHA

    Mandatory
    1970

    U.S. federal regulation for workplace safety standards

    VS

    GLBA

    Mandatory
    1999

    US law for financial privacy notices and safeguards

    Quick Verdict

    OSHA mandates workplace safety standards for all industries via inspections and fines, while GLBA requires financial firms to protect consumer data privacy and security through notices, opt-outs, and risk programs. Companies adopt them for legal compliance and risk reduction.

    Occupational Safety

    OSHA

    Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months
    Financial Privacy

    GLBA

    Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Privacy notices and opt-out rights for NPI sharing
    • Comprehensive written information security program
    • Qualified Individual designation and board reporting
    • Breach notification within 30 days for 500+ consumers
    • Service provider oversight and risk assessments

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    OSHA Details

    What It Is

    Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, is a U.S. federal regulation enforcing workplace safety and health. Its primary purpose is assuring safe conditions by reducing hazards through standards, enforcement, and education. Scope covers general industry (29 CFR 1910), construction (1926), with a performance-based approach using the General Duty Clause.

    Key Components

    • Organized into subparts addressing hazards like walking surfaces, PPE, toxic substances.
    • **Hierarchy of controlselimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE.
    • Recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904), inspections (1903), penalties.
    • No formal certification; compliance via self-implementation and OSHA audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Legal requirement under OSH Act; non-compliance risks fines up to $165k.
    • Reduces injuries, lowers costs, improves productivity.
    • Builds worker trust, meets insurer demands, enhances reputation.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, written programs (IIPP), training, audits.
    • Applies to most U.S. employers; state plans may enhance.
    • Ongoing via inspections, no external certification needed.

    GLBA Details

    What It Is

    Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is a US federal law enacted in 1999. It establishes privacy and security standards for financial institutions handling nonpublic personal information (NPI). Primary purpose: ensure transparency in data sharing and protect customer data via risk-based safeguards. Approach combines notice/opt-out requirements with comprehensive security programs.

    Key Components

    • Privacy Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 313): Initial/annual notices, opt-out for nonaffiliated sharing.
    • Safeguards Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 314): Written security program with 9+ elements like risk assessments, Qualified Individual, testing.
    • **Pretexting provisionsAnti-social engineering protections. Built on risk-based governance; enforced by FTC for non-banks; no formal certification, but audits/enforcement.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mandatory for financial institutions (broad scope: banks, lenders, tax firms).
    • Mitigates enforcement risks (fines up to $100K/violation).
    • Builds trust, reduces breach impacts, enables secure operations.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: scoping, risk assessment, policies, technical controls (encryption, MFA), vendor oversight, training, testing. Applies to US financial entities; ongoing compliance with board reporting, breach notification (30 days for 500+ consumers).

    Key Differences

    Scope

    OSHA
    Workplace safety, health hazards, recordkeeping
    GLBA
    Consumer financial privacy, data security

    Industry

    OSHA
    All general industry, construction, agriculture
    GLBA
    Financial institutions, non-banks handling NPI

    Nature

    OSHA
    Mandatory federal regulations with inspections
    GLBA
    Mandatory privacy and safeguards rules

    Testing

    OSHA
    Inspections, record reviews, no formal certs
    GLBA
    Risk assessments, pen tests, vulnerability scans

    Penalties

    OSHA
    Civil fines up to $165K per willful violation
    GLBA
    Civil penalties up to $100K per violation

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about OSHA and GLBA

    OSHA FAQ

    GLBA FAQ

    You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

    Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

    Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

    Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

    100+ Standards & Regulations
    AI-Powered Insights
    Collaborative Assessments
    Actionable Recommendations

    Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages