Occupational Safety and Health Act

The United States is a nation of manufacturing and production. Today, it is easy to take for granted that legislation is in place to protect workers; however, the United States has not always been a nation that prioritizes the safety of its workers.

For example, when the first railways were built in the mid-1800s, there were no regulations in place to protect workers or ensure their safety. In 1890, there were approximately 750,000 railroad employees; by 1910, there were 1,699,000 employees. In a nine-year period between 1902 and 1911, a total of 33,761 employees were killed and 403,259 employees were injured working on railways.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed by Congress in 1970. Its main goal is to ensure that workers have a safe environment that is free of hazards. Some of the potential hazards defined by the OSH Act are as follows:

• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Noise levels that can cause hearing loss
• Extreme temperatures
• Unsanitary working conditions

To understand the importance of this act, you will learn more about the history of federal legislation to enforce worker safety. The fight for worker safety dates to the late 19th century and includes years of battle over legislation and countless stories of worker injury, illness, and death.

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