One function of the Department of Labor in occupational safety is to require recordkeeping for workplaces with how many employees?

• A. More than 10 employees to keep records of fatalities, injuries, and illnesses on the OSHA 300 form
• B. Develops laws based on these statistics
• C. Inspects every workplace daily
• D. Provide health insurance to workers

Answer: (B)

Understanding how data from workplace safety records informs policy is key here. OSHA collects records of fatalities, injuries, and illnesses from most employers (there is a size threshold that triggers the requirement, typically around ten or more employees, with some exemptions). That information creates a clear picture of where hazards are and how often they occur. The Department of Labor uses these statistics to develop and update laws and regulations aimed at preventing injuries and illnesses. In this sense, turning safety data into new or revised legal requirements is the function most closely tied to occupational safety policy. The other statements describe actions that aren’t how OSHA operates: daily inspections of every workplace aren’t feasible; providing health insurance isn’t a function of occupational safety agencies; and while the recordkeeping threshold exists, the emphasis here is on how the data guides legal standards, not just the threshold itself.