The aviation industry is a heavily regulated industry and rightly so as the public safety is of the greatest concern and the main purpose for that regulation. Within the framework of the many agencies tasked with regulating the aviation industry there resides two agencies that have various roles that tie in with various areas of regulation.
While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exercises statutory authority pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 44701 et seq., governing aviation safety and may issue regulations that are related to flight safety (U.S. Department of Labor, 2019). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exercises statutory authority pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., governing the occupational safety and health of employees (U.S. Department of Labor, 2019). This means that OSHA is tasked with ensuring that the employees that work within the aviation industry. OSHA is concerned with the working conditions in which employees work concerning regulations affecting occupational safety or health. This means that both agencies have a duty to work together for the benefit of not only the general public’s safety but also for the safety of the workers within the aviation industry. A memorandum of Understanding established in the year 2000, between The Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation and The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor establishes a working relationship to enhance safety and health in the aviation industry (U.S. Department of Labor, 2019). This ensures a level of cooperation which will place a priority on employee safety going forward.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with ensuring the protection of human health and the environment within the United States of America. Within the realm of aviation, the EPA is concerned with the emissions that airplanes produce. Some of the areas that the EPA is concerned about include the following: regulations for greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft, regulations for nitrogen oxide emissions from aircraft, regulations for lead emissions from aircraft and information on contrails from aircraft (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2019). The EPA is also tasked with ensuring that areas where aircraft are produced, maintained or operated do not severely impact the environment in which they operate.
Together these agencies and many others both domestic and international ensure that the employees and environment are protected and the operations within aviation are in compliance with regulations that also safeguard the general public.
References
U.S. Department of Labor. (2019, March 24). U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved from U.S. Department of Labor Web site: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/mou/2000-08-09
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2019, March 24). United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency Web site: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/regulations-emissions-aircraft