Occupational Safety and Health Act

IN RESPONSE TO rising concerns about worker and workplace safety, the U.S. Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA). Enacted under the federal government's Constitutional right to regulate interstate commerce, the legislation aims to guarantee that workers across the United States have a workplace which is free from hazards like machinery dangers, constant loud noises, temperature extremes, unsanitary conditions, and toxic chemicals. In order to achieve these goals, the act authorized the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which was established in 1971.

OSHA covers all employers and their employees in any U.S. state or territory. An employer is “any person engaged in a business affecting commerce who has employees, but does not include the United States or any ...