OSHA
U.S. regulation assuring safe workplace conditions
HITRUST CSF
Certifiable framework harmonizing 60+ security standards
Quick Verdict
OSHA mandates workplace safety standards with enforced inspections and fines for US employers, while HITRUST CSF offers voluntary cybersecurity certification harmonizing 60+ frameworks for healthcare and regulated sectors seeking trusted assurance.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
Key Features
- Enforces General Duty Clause for recognized hazards
- Hierarchy of controls prioritizing engineering solutions
- 29 CFR 1910 standards for general industry hazards
- Mandatory injury/illness recordkeeping and reporting
- Risk-based inspections and civil penalties
HITRUST CSF
HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF)
Key Features
- Harmonizes 60+ frameworks into single certifiable assessment
- Risk-based tailoring using organizational and system factors
- Five-level maturity scoring for controls
- Centralized HITRUST validation and certification
- MyCSF platform enables inheritance and evidence management
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 standards. Its primary purpose is assuring safe conditions by reducing hazards through standards in 29 CFR 1910 (general industry) and others, using a risk-based enforcement approach with the General Duty Clause.
Key Components
- Subparts covering walking surfaces, PPE, hazardous materials, toxic substances (Subpart Z).
- **Hierarchy of controlselimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE.
- Recordkeeping (OSHA 300/300A/301 forms), inspections, penalties up to $165,514.
- Compliance via standards, General Duty Clause, state plans.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory legal compliance avoids fines, shutdowns.
- Reduces injuries, workers' comp costs, boosts productivity.
- Enhances reputation, meets stakeholder ESG expectations.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, written programs (IIPP), training, audits. Applies to most U.S. employers; ongoing enforcement, no certification but inspections required.
HITRUST CSF Details
What It Is
HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) is a certifiable, threat-adaptive control framework consolidating requirements from 60+ regulations and standards like HIPAA, NIST, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and GDPR. It employs a risk-based approach with structured tailoring via organizational, system, and regulatory factors.
Key Components
- 19 assessment domains covering governance, technical safeguards, and resilience.
- Hierarchical structure: 14 categories, 49 objectives, ~156 specifications.
- Five-level maturity model (Policy, Procedure, Implemented, Measured, Managed).
- Tiered certifications: e1 (44 controls), i1 (182 requirements), r2 (tailored, 2-year).
Why Organizations Use It
- Rationalizes multi-framework compliance (assess once, report many).
- Provides credible third-party assurance for healthcare and regulated sectors.
- Enhances risk management, reduces breach risk (99.4% breach-free reported).
- Boosts market access, insurance benefits, and stakeholder trust.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: scoping in MyCSF, gap analysis, remediation, validated assessment.
- Suited for mid-to-large organizations in healthcare, finance; global applicability.
- Requires Authorized External Assessors, evidence management, ~90-day operationalization.
Key Differences
| Aspect | OSHA | HITRUST CSF |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Workplace safety, health hazards, recordkeeping | Information security, privacy, cyber controls |
| Industry | All US industries, general/construction | Healthcare primary, regulated sectors global |
| Nature | Mandatory federal regulation enforced | Voluntary certifiable framework |
| Testing | OSHA inspections, employer recordkeeping | External assessor validation, maturity scoring |
| Penalties | Civil fines up to $165K per violation | No penalties, loss of certification |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OSHA and HITRUST CSF
OSHA FAQ
HITRUST CSF FAQ
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