The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act was created in 1970 with the goal of assuring safe and healthful working conditions for all working Americans. The
OSHA regulations that have stemmed from this act have resulted in occupational health and safety standards that apply to each employer in the private sector. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for creating and enforcing the regulations required by the OSH Act.
Employers Covered by OSHA Regulations
OSHA regulations cover all private-sector employers with one or more workers in all states and U.S. territories. The term “private sector employer” applies to any business with one or more employees engaged in a commercial or noncommercial activity that affects commerce. This definition includes not-for-profit organizations.
State OSHA Regulations
OSHA regulations encourage states to develop their own safety and health plans, but an individual state’s OSHA plans are required to be at least as stringent as the federal OSH Act and must be approved by federal OSHA. Currently, 23 states and territories, called “state plan” states, have their own plans, which apply to both private and public sectors, and preempt federal OSHA regulations.
Safety.BLR.com has practical compliance analysis of all state and federal OSHA regulations. Plus sample OSHA training tools in all time-saving formats: PowerPoint, safety talks, OSHA refresher, outlines, and checklists.
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Plain-English compliance analysis of all OSHA regulations