Standards Comparison

    OSHA

    Mandatory
    1970

    U.S. federal regulation assuring workplace safety standards

    VS

    ISO 28000

    Voluntary
    2022

    International standard for supply chain security management systems.

    Quick Verdict

    OSHA mandates US workplace safety through enforced standards and inspections, while ISO 28000 provides voluntary global supply chain security frameworks via certification. Companies adopt OSHA for legal compliance; ISO 28000 for resilience and market trust.

    Occupational Safety

    OSHA

    Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

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

    Key Features

    • Mandates General Duty Clause for recognized hazards
    • Hierarchy of controls prioritizing engineering solutions
    • 29 CFR 1910 standards for general industry
    • Risk-based inspection prioritization and penalties
    • Electronic injury reporting via Injury Tracking Application
    Supply Chain Security

    ISO 28000

    ISO 28000:2022 Security management systems — Requirements

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

    Key Features

    • Risk-based supply chain security management system
    • PDCA cycle for continual improvement
    • Supplier and third-party interdependency controls
    • Integration with ISO HLS standards
    • Proportional controls and incident response plans

    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, primarily through 29 CFR 1910 for general industry. It uses a risk-based approach with the General Duty Clause and hierarchy of controls.

    Key Components

    • Subparts covering walking-working surfaces, PPE, hazardous materials, toxic substances (Subpart Z).
    • Over 30 subparts with PELs, recordkeeping (Part 1904), enforcement procedures.
    • Core principles: hierarchy of controls, performance-based standards, state plans.
    • Compliance via inspections, citations, no formal certification but VPP voluntary recognition.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Legal requirement under OSH Act for most U.S. employers.
    • Mitigates penalties up to $165K, reduces injuries/illnesses.
    • Lowers workers' comp costs, boosts productivity, enhances reputation.
    • Builds stakeholder trust, supports ESG goals.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, written programs (IIPP, HazCom), training, audits.
    • Applies to private sector, various sizes/industries; state variations.
    • Ongoing inspections, electronic ITA reporting; no central certification.

    ISO 28000 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 28000:2022 is an international certification standard specifying requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving a security management system (SMS) focused on supply chain security and resilience. It uses a risk-based, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach to manage threats like theft, sabotage, and disruptions across supply chains.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, and improvement.
    • Emphasizes risk assessment, controls (physical, personnel, procedural), incident response, and supplier governance.
    • Built on ISO High Level Structure (HLS) for integration; no fixed controls, proportional to risks.
    • Optional third-party certification via accredited bodies per ISO 28003.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mitigates operational risks, reduces incidents/insurance costs.
    • Meets contractual/regulatory drivers (e.g., C-TPAT equivalents), enables trade facilitation.
    • Builds stakeholder trust, competitive edge in logistics/manufacturing.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, controls deployment, audits (6-36 months scalable by size).
    • Applies to all sizes/industries with supply chains; involves mapping, training, continual improvement.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    OSHA
    Workplace safety, health hazards, recordkeeping
    ISO 28000
    Supply chain security management systems

    Industry

    OSHA
    All US industries, general/construction/agriculture
    ISO 28000
    Logistics, manufacturing, any supply chain

    Nature

    OSHA
    Mandatory US federal regulations, enforced
    ISO 28000
    Voluntary international certification standard

    Testing

    OSHA
    Inspections, recordkeeping audits by OSHA
    ISO 28000
    Internal audits, third-party certification audits

    Penalties

    OSHA
    Civil fines up to $165k, criminal for willful
    ISO 28000
    No legal penalties, loss of certification

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about OSHA and ISO 28000

    OSHA FAQ

    ISO 28000 FAQ

    You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

    Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

    Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

    Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

    100+ Standards & Regulations
    AI-Powered Insights
    Collaborative Assessments
    Actionable Recommendations

    Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages