Employee Safety and Health

The mission of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1971 (OSH Act) is to “send every worker home whole and healthy every day.” The act requires employers to provide a safe workplace for all employees, and provides a process for investigation of complaints of unfair practices and a process for workplace inspections. The Act covers private-sector employers and employees in all 50 states and certain territories and jurisdictions of the United States through the federal Act or through state-approved programs.

Since the passage of the Act, U.S. employment has nearly doubled yet workplace fatalities have declined by more than 65%, and occupational injury and illness rates are down 67%. These results come from a combination of efforts by OSHA, state partners, employers, unions, advocates, and safety and health professionals.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces the OSH Act and other safety and health regulations in the workplace; provides outreach programs, education, and compliance assistance to employers; and develops partnerships with employers and other groups interested in safety issues. OSHA requires an employer to provide a workplace that is free of known hazards to health and safety and that complies with OSHA guidelines. Compliance officers have the right to inspect businesses and can issue citations when health and safety hazards are discovered.