OSHA
U.S. federal agency enforcing workplace safety standards
RoHS
EU regulation restricting hazardous substances in EEE
Quick Verdict
OSHA mandates workplace safety standards across US industries to prevent injuries, while RoHS restricts hazardous substances in EEE for EU market access. Companies adopt OSHA for legal compliance and hazard reduction; RoHS ensures product sales and environmental protection.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standards
Key Features
- General Duty Clause enforces recognized serious hazards
- Hierarchy of controls prioritizes engineering over PPE
- 29 CFR 1910 standards for general industry safety
- Risk-based inspections target high-hazard workplaces
- Civil penalties up to $165k for willful violations
RoHS
Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2)
Key Features
- Homogeneous material thresholds at 0.1% (0.01% Cd)
- Restricts 10 hazardous substances in EEE
- Open scope for all EEE unless excluded
- Time-limited exemptions in Annexes III/IV
- Requires technical file and EU DoC
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) is a U.S. federal agency under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. It is a regulatory framework enforcing workplace safety and health standards, primarily in 29 CFR 1910 for general industry. Its primary purpose is assuring safe conditions by reducing hazards through standards enforcement and the General Duty Clause. It uses a hierarchy of controls approach: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE.
Key Components
- Organized into subparts covering walking-working surfaces, PPE, hazardous materials, toxic substances (Subpart Z).
- Core principles: specific standards precedence, General Duty Clause for gaps.
- Recordkeeping (OSHA 300/300A/301), electronic reporting via ITA.
- No certification; compliance via inspections, citations, penalties.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for U.S. employers affecting interstate commerce.
- Mitigates legal risks, penalties up to $165k.
- Reduces injuries, lowers workers' comp costs, boosts productivity.
- Builds reputation, enables state plan alignment.
Implementation Overview
- Systems-based: gap analysis, IIPPs, training, audits.
- Applies to most industries, sizes; state variations.
- Phased: hazard ID, controls, recordkeeping; ongoing inspections.
RoHS Details
What It Is
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), officially Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2), is an EU regulation restricting ten hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to protect health and environment during waste management. It applies an open-scope approach to all EEE unless excluded, using homogeneous material concentration limits (0.1% w/w generally, 0.01% for cadmium).
Key Components
- **Ten restricted substancesPb, Hg, Cd, Cr(VI), PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP.
- **Annexes III/IV exemptionsTime-limited for specific applications.
- **Compliance modelTechnical documentation per EN IEC 63000, EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC), CE marking.
- Built on risk-based verification with IEC 62321 testing standards.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for EU market access; prevents fines, recalls.
- Enhances recyclability, supply chain transparency.
- Builds stakeholder trust, supports ESG goals, levels playing field.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: scoping, gap analysis, supplier controls, testing, documentation.
- Applies to manufacturers/importers of EEE globally selling to EU.
- No central certification; self-declared with 10-year retention, market surveillance audits. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | OSHA | RoHS |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Workplace safety and health hazards | Hazardous substances in EEE materials |
| Industry | All US industries, state plans | EEE manufacturers, EU market focus |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal regulations | Mandatory EU product restriction directive |
| Testing | Inspections, injury recordkeeping | Material substance analysis (XRF, ICP-MS) |
| Penalties | Civil fines up to $165k per violation | Product recalls, fines vary by Member State |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OSHA and RoHS
OSHA FAQ
RoHS FAQ
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