OSHA standards have been created by OSHA as a result of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. These standards apply to each employer in the private sector, with the goal of assuring safe and healthful working conditions for all working Americans. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces these regulations.
Employers Covered by OSHA Standards
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 Standards
OSHA regulations encourage states to develop their own safety and health plans, but state OSHA plans are required to be at least as stringent as the federal OSH Act. 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 standards.
Safety.BLR.com is the source for practical compliance analysis and the full text of all state and federal OSHA standards. 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 standards