OSHA
US federal regulation enforcing workplace safety standards
ISO 20000
International standard for service management systems.
Quick Verdict
OSHA mandates US workplace safety through enforced standards and penalties, while ISO 20000 offers voluntary certification for global service management excellence. Companies adopt OSHA for legal compliance; ISO 20000 for market trust and operational maturity.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
Key Features
- Enforces General Duty Clause for recognized hazards
- Mandates hierarchy of controls prioritizing engineering
- Requires OSHA 300 logs and electronic reporting
- Conducts risk-prioritized inspections with penalties
- Supports state plans matching federal effectiveness
ISO 20000
ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Service management system requirements
Key Features
- Annex SL structure for ISO integration
- End-to-end service lifecycle management
- PDCA-driven continual improvement
- Leadership and risk-based planning
- Multi-supplier control requirements
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 in 29 CFR 1910 (general industry) and others. Key approach: risk-based enforcement via General Duty Clause and hierarchy of controls.
Key Components
- Subparts covering walking surfaces, PPE, hazardous materials, toxic substances.
- Recordkeeping (OSHA 300/300A/301 forms), inspections, penalties up to $165,514.
- Core principles: elimination, engineering controls, training, medical surveillance.
- Compliance via citations, no formal certification but state plans required.
Why Organizations Use It
Legal mandate prevents fines, injuries; reduces workers' comp costs, boosts productivity. Manages risks like falls, chemicals; enhances reputation, ESG alignment.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, written programs (IIPP, HazCom), training, audits. Applies to most US employers; ongoing via inspections, electronic reporting.
ISO 20000 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 is the certifiable international standard for establishing and operating a service management system (SMS). It specifies auditable requirements for managing services across their lifecycle—planning, design, transition, delivery, and improvement—using a risk-based, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach aligned with Annex SL for integration with other ISO standards like ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 27001.
Key Components
- Clauses 4–10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement.
- Operational Clause 8 includes service portfolio, relationships, supply/demand, design/transition, resolution, and assurance.
- Core processes: incident/problem management, change/release, configuration/asset, availability/continuity, supplier management.
- Certifiable via accredited bodies with Stage 1/2 audits, surveillance, and recertification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Drives service reliability, customer trust, and risk reduction (e.g., 50% certificate growth per ISO survey).
- Meets procurement/contract demands; enables market differentiation.
- Supports governance, efficiency (e.g., 69% report trust gains), and integration.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, design, deployment, audits (12-18 months typical).
- Applies to all sizes/industries providing services (IT, cloud, BPO).
- Requires leadership, training, tooling, internal audits for certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | OSHA | ISO 20000 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Workplace safety, health hazards, recordkeeping | Service management systems, IT service lifecycle |
| Industry | All US general industry, construction, agriculture | Service providers worldwide, any industry size |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal regulations, enforced inspections | Voluntary international certification standard |
| Testing | Compliance inspections, injury data submission | Stage 1/2 audits, surveillance, management reviews |
| Penalties | Civil fines up to $165K, failure-to-abate daily | Loss of certification, no legal penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OSHA and ISO 20000
OSHA FAQ
ISO 20000 FAQ
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