Founded in 1978, LOSH is a nationally recognized center promoting safe workplaces through teaching and education, research, and policy advocacy. LOSH collaborates with workers, unions, community organizations, employers, academics, students, governmental representatives, and health professionals. Initiatives include health and safety training and education for low-income, minority, immigrant and young workers; public advocacy; and participation in industry-wide research relating to occupational and environmental health policy issues in California.

Over one thousand workers receive training annually in a region incorporating two-thirds of California's workforce. LOSH staff includes a multi-ethnic, bilingual group of professionals with backgrounds in public health, participatory adult education, curriculum development, social work, public policy, and quantitative and qualitative research methods.

LOSH is a subunit of UCLA's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH)