# OSHA

/ˈoʊʃə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/osha
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. US safety agency

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

Stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This is the US government group that creates and enforces rules to protect workers from accidents or illness.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The primary US federal agency tasked with regulating workplace safety and health environments.

- The factory manager had to update the safety signs to meet OSHA requirements.
- Following the industrial accident, OSHA inspectors arrived on-site to determine if the company had violated federal safety protocols.

Usage: Usually functions as a proper noun; often used as a modifier before other nouns like 'regulations', 'inspectors', or 'standards'.

Teaching tip: This is a very common term in American business and legal contexts. Even though it is a specific US agency, the term is often used metonymically to refer to workplace safety rules in general within the US.

### 2. a medicinal herb

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Technical

A plant found in the Rocky Mountains that some people use as a traditional medicine for coughs or sore throats.

For teachers: A perennial herb (Ligusticum porteri) native to the Rocky Mountains, traditionally used in herbal medicine for its antiviral and antibacterial properties.

- The guide pointed out the osha plant growing along the mountain trail.
- Ethnobotanists have studied the osha root for its historical significance in indigenous medicinal practices throughout the American Southwest.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the species or the herbal preparation.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly specialized and rare outside of botany or herbalism circles in the Western United States.

## Examples

- The company must follow OSHA rules to avoid fines.
- After the accident on the construction site, an OSHA inspector arrived to check if the safety equipment met federal standards.
- Compliance with OSHA regulations is mandatory for private sector employers, as the agency's primary mandate is the mitigation of workplace hazards through rigorous inspection and enforcement protocols.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.