The Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed into law by President Nixon in 1970 as a response to high levels of workplace injuries and deaths and the lack of effective safety regulations in the various states. OSHA pre-empts any less-stringent state laws relating to workplace safety, that is, the states are not permitted to pass their own legislation related to this subject that does not set standards as high as those set by OSHA.
OSHA covers all employers that have employees and are considered to be “engaged in commerce” (practically speaking, most employers) in most states of the United States. There are a few states that have been permitted to maintain their own safety and health plans, which are at least as stringent as OSHA and have been specifically approved by the federal government.
Unsafe Working Conditions or Safety & Health
Contact the Occupational Safety and Health
(OSHA)
1-800-321-OSHA (6742)
1-877-889-5627