OSHA
US federal regulation for workplace safety standards
IFS Food
International standard for food safety and process compliance
Quick Verdict
OSHA mandates US workplace safety via enforced standards and inspections, while IFS Food certifies global food manufacturers' processes through voluntary audits. Companies adopt OSHA for legal compliance; IFS for retailer access and supply chain trust.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
Key Features
- Enforces safety standards via inspections and penalties
- General Duty Clause covers recognized serious hazards
- Hierarchy of controls prioritizes engineering solutions
- Injury recordkeeping with electronic ITA submission
- Performance-based rules across 29 CFR 1910 subparts
IFS Food
IFS Food Version 8
Key Features
- Product and Process Approach (PPA) with audit trails
- Minimum 50% on-site production evaluation
- Annual audits with unannounced frequency
- 10 Knock-Out requirements for critical controls
- Risk-based food fraud and defense integration
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), under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, is a US 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. It uses a performance-based approach with the General Duty Clause for uncodified hazards.
Key Components
- Organized into subparts covering walking surfaces, PPE, hazardous materials, toxicology (Subpart Z).
- **Hierarchy of controlselimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE.
- Recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904), inspections, penalties up to $165,514.
- No certification; compliance via enforcement and state plans.
Why Organizations Use It
- Legal mandate prevents fines, shutdowns, litigation.
- Reduces injuries, workers' comp costs, boosts productivity.
- Enhances reputation, meets stakeholder ESG expectations.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, written programs (IIPP, HazCom), training, audits.
- Applies to most US employers; scalable by size/industry.
- Ongoing via inspections, no formal certification.
IFS Food Details
What It Is
IFS Food Version 8 is a GFSI-benchmarked certification standard developed by retail federations for food manufacturers. It ensures safe, legal, authentic products compliant with customer specs via a risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA) emphasizing on-site verification.
Key Components
- Organized into governance, HACCP/PRPs, resources, operations, performance (Sections 1-5)
- Hundreds of checklist requirements with 10 Knock-Out (KO) criteria
- Built on HACCP principles, food fraud/defense, traceability
- Annual audits with scoring (Higher ≥95%, Foundation ≥75%), unannounced options
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandated by European retailers for market access
- Reduces duplicate audits, builds supply chain trust
- Mitigates risks like recalls, enhances safety culture
- Provides competitive edge via Star status
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, FSMS design, training, validation, audits
- Targets food processors globally, site-specific
- Requires ISO 17065-accredited body for certification (180 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | OSHA | IFS Food |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Workplace safety, health hazards, recordkeeping | Food safety, quality, process compliance |
| Industry | All US industries, general/manufacturing focus | Food manufacturing/packaging, global retailers |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal regulation, enforced inspections | Voluntary GFSI certification, third-party audits |
| Testing | OSHA inspections, injury recordkeeping, reporting | Annual product/process audits, traceability tests |
| Penalties | Civil fines up to $165k, criminal for willful | Certification denial, no legal penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OSHA and IFS Food
OSHA FAQ
IFS Food FAQ
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