Occupational Safety and Health Act
Why and when was the Occupational Safety and Health Act passed? Describe some of the provisions in this Act. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 as the name implies, was passed in 1970 for employee safety reasons. The increasing number of workers being killed or injured as a result of their jobs, the impact it had on the economy at large, and the emotional and psychological trauma caused by these deaths (or injuries in some cases), was the main reason for the passage of this Act. As a matter of fact, the implementation of this Act in the workplace would bring back safety consciousness and sanity to the workplace, the employees, and the organization at large. In summary, the Occupational Safety and Health Act was enacted “to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women, by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act; by assisting and encouraging the states in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working conditions, by providing research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health; and for other purposes (http://osha.gov). Some provisions contained in the Act pertain to employers as well as employees, though more weight is placed on employer responsibility. Important to note is that the provisions of this law apply to every employer in every state or territory of the United States who is engaged in any business that affects interstate commerce (http://aede.osu.edu/resources). “The Osh Act charges employers with three main responsibilities: to furnish and maintain a healthful work environment, to keep records of occupational injuries and illnesses, and to comply with OSHA standards (http://aede.osu.edu/resources). This in effect means that the employer (or organization) is charged with making sure that the work environment it subjects its employees to, is free of hazardous machinery or chemicals which could lead to serious injury or death, or in cases where
Bibliography: http://osha.gov http://aede.osu.edu/resources