What It Is

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, is a US federal regulatory framework enforcing workplace safety and health standards codified in 29 CFR 1910 (general industry) and others. Its primary purpose is assuring safe conditions by reducing hazards through standards enforcement, inspections, and the General Duty Clause for recognized serious risks. It uses a performance-based, hierarchy-of-controls approach prioritizing elimination and engineering over PPE.

Key Components

• Organized into subparts covering walking surfaces, PPE, hazardous materials, toxic substances (Subpart Z), emergency plans, and recordkeeping (Part 1904).
• Core principles: specific standards precedence, General Duty Clause, injury logs (Forms 300/300A/301), electronic ITA submissions.
• No formal certification; compliance via self-implementation, state plans, and OSHA enforcement.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory for US employers affecting interstate commerce; mitigates penalties (up to $165k willful violations), reduces injuries/costs, enhances reputation, meets insurance/supply-chain demands, fosters proactive IIPP programs.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, written programs (HazCom, LOTO), training, engineering controls, audits. Applies to most private-sector employers; varies by industry/size; ongoing inspections enforce compliance without certification.

What It Is

PDPA (Personal Data Protection Act 2012) is Singapore's principal privacy regulation governing collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal data by organizations. It adopts a principles-based approach balancing individual rights with business needs, covering private sector entities with extraterritorial elements in variants like Thailand's PDPA.

Key Components

• Nine core obligations: consent, notification, access/correction, accuracy, protection, retention, transfer limitation, accountability, breach notification.
• Mandatory Data Protection Officer (DPO) and Data Protection Management Programme (DPMP).
• Built on reasonableness and proportionality; no fixed control count but risk-based implementation.
• Compliance via self-assessment, PDPC guidance, no formal certification.

Why Organizations Use It

• Legal compliance to avoid fines up to SGD 1M or 10% revenue.
• Enhances trust, enables data-driven innovation, mitigates breach risks.
• Supports market access in Southeast Asia, GDPR alignment benefits.

Implementation Overview

• Phased: governance, data mapping, policies, controls, training, audits.
• Applies to all sizes handling Singapore data; intensive for multinationals.
• No certification; PDPC audits/enforcement focus on demonstrable accountability. (178 words)