| The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) | | | | the public's interest in protecting worker safety, |
| is a United States federal law which oversees | | | | as exposure to toxins was greater for employees |
| health and safety in both the public and private | | | | than the environment into which the chemicals |
| workplace sectors. Signed into law by President | | | | were dumped. After President Johnson tried to |
| Nixon in 1970, the goal of the law is to ensure the | | | | introduce a comprehensive worker protection bill |
| workplace safety of employees, by requiring | | | | that later failed, President Nixon proposed OSHA. |
| employers to remove potential hazards such as | | | | This compromise bill was less demanding on the |
| unsanitary conditions, toxic chemicals, mechanical | | | | employers, although it did utilize the Department |
| dangers, and excessive noise. | | | | of Labor's ability to enforce employer violations. |
| The legal forerunners of OSHA were introduced | | | | OSHA officially went into effect on April 28, 1971, |
| with the passing of the Safety Appliance Act in | | | | which is now celebrated as Worker's Memorial |
| 1893. This was the first federal law to require | | | | Day by many American Labor Unions. |
| workplace safety equipment, although it only | | | | OSHA also created the Occupational Safety and |
| applied to railroad workers. Later, in 1910, after a | | | | Health Administration, an agency within the |
| series of deadly mine explosions, Congress | | | | Department of Labor. This Administration has the |
| created the Bureau of the Mines to research | | | | jurisdiction to create and enforce workplace |
| improvements in mine safety. With the increased | | | | standards. The Act also formed the independent |
| industrial production following World War II, | | | | Occupational Health and Safety Review |
| accidents in the workplace soared to an all time | | | | Commission to review enforcement actions. |
| high. In the two years preceding the introduction | | | | Finally, OSHA also established the National Institute |
| of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, about | | | | of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), |
| 14,000 employees died each year from accidents | | | | another autonomous research organization that |
| and another 2 million were injured on the job. | | | | forms a part of the Center for Disease Control. |
| Additionally, the increase in the use of | | | | By creating independent investigative agencies, |
| manufacturing chemicals exposed workers to | | | | OSHA effectively created a systems of |
| greater amounts of hazards. | | | | bureaucratic checks and balances for the best of |
| Heightened awareness in the mid 1960's about the | | | | worker protection laws and to provide a fair and |
| environmental impact of chemical usage increased | | | | methodological enforcement of such rules. |