Which organization regulates and enforces safety standards to protect employees at work?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the organization specifically tasked with regulating and enforcing safety standards to protect employees in the workplace. Created under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA's mission is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards as well as providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. This includes regulations related to exposure to hazardous materials, use of personal protective equipment, and ensuring that workplaces are free from serious recognized hazards.

Other organizations listed, while they may deal with aspects of health and safety, do not specifically focus on workplace safety regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency focuses on environmental protection and the management of environmental issues. The National Institutes of Health is primarily involved in medical research and health issues rather than workplace safety. Workplace Safety Authority is not a recognized federal agency in the United States and does not exist in the same capacity as OSHA. Thus, OSHA is rightly recognized as the authority for workplace safety standards.