Standards Comparison

    OSHA

    Mandatory
    1970

    US federal regulation for workplace safety standards

    VS

    ISO 14064

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for GHG quantification, reporting, verification.

    Quick Verdict

    OSHA enforces US workplace safety via regulations and inspections, while ISO 14064 provides voluntary global standards for credible GHG emissions accounting and verification. Companies adopt OSHA for legal compliance and ISO 14064 for stakeholder trust and decarbonization strategy.

    Occupational Safety

    OSHA

    Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

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

    Key Features

    • Mandates General Duty Clause for recognized hazards
    • Hierarchy of controls prioritizing engineering solutions
    • 29 CFR 1910 standards for general industry hazards
    • Electronic injury reporting via Injury Tracking Application
    • Risk-based inspections with escalating civil penalties
    Greenhouse Gas Accounting

    ISO 14064

    ISO 14064: Greenhouse gases specification guidance

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

    Key Features

    • Three-part modular structure for inventories, projects, verification
    • Five principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy
    • Scopes 1-3 emissions classification and boundary setting
    • Risk-based third-party validation and verification
    • Alignment with GHG Protocol for global comparability

    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 US federal regulation enforcing workplace safety and health standards. Its primary purpose is assuring safe conditions by reducing hazards through standards, enforcement, and cooperation. It uses a risk-based, performance-oriented approach with the General Duty Clause for uncodified hazards.

    Key Components

    • Organized into 29 CFR 1910 (general industry), 1926 (construction), with subparts for hazards like falls, chemicals, PPE.
    • Core principles: hierarchy of controls (elimination to PPE), recordkeeping (OSHA 300/300A/301), electronic submission.
    • No formal certification; compliance via inspections, citations, penalties up to $165,514 for willful violations.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Legal mandate avoiding fines, shutdowns; reduces injury costs, workers' comp.
    • Enhances risk management, productivity, reputation; aligns with ESG, supply chains.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, written programs (IIPP, HazCom), training, audits.
    • Applies to most US employers; scales by size/industry; ongoing via inspections.

    ISO 14064 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 14064 is an international standard family (ISO 14064-1:2018, -2:2019, -3:2019) providing specifications and guidance for GHG emissions quantification, reporting, and verification. It is a modular framework for organizations and projects, emphasizing principle-based approaches like relevance and accuracy.

    Key Components

    • Three parts: Part 1 (organizational inventories), Part 2 (project reductions/removals), Part 3 (validation/verification).
    • Five core principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy.
    • Scopes 1-3 classification, boundary setting, uncertainty management.
    • No fixed controls; compliance via self-application or third-party assurance under ISO 14065.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Enables credible reporting for regulations (e.g., CSRD, SB-253), investors, carbon markets.
    • Drives operational improvements, risk reduction, green finance access.
    • Builds stakeholder trust through independent verification.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: governance, boundary design, data systems, verification.
    • Applies to all sizes/industries; voluntary but audit-ready.
    • Involves training, software, external verifiers (reasonable/limited assurance).

    Key Differences

    Scope

    OSHA
    Workplace safety and health hazards
    ISO 14064
    GHG emissions quantification and reporting

    Industry

    OSHA
    All US industries, general/construction
    ISO 14064
    All sectors worldwide, any organization

    Nature

    OSHA
    Mandatory US federal regulations
    ISO 14064
    Voluntary international standards

    Testing

    OSHA
    OSHA inspections and recordkeeping
    ISO 14064
    Third-party validation/verification

    Penalties

    OSHA
    Civil fines up to $165k per violation
    ISO 14064
    No legal penalties, loss of credibility

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about OSHA and ISO 14064

    OSHA FAQ

    ISO 14064 FAQ

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