OSHA
US federal regulation for workplace safety standards
ISO 14064
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.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
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
ISO 14064
ISO 14064: Greenhouse gases specification guidance
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
| Aspect | OSHA | ISO 14064 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Workplace safety and health hazards | GHG emissions quantification and reporting |
| Industry | All US industries, general/construction | All sectors worldwide, any organization |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal regulations | Voluntary international standards |
| Testing | OSHA inspections and recordkeeping | Third-party validation/verification |
| Penalties | Civil fines up to $165k per violation | No legal penalties, loss of credibility |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OSHA and ISO 14064
OSHA FAQ
ISO 14064 FAQ
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