he Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was actually an extension of this kind of legislation. Due to a rising number of workplace related injuries and fatalities, Congress enacted the law in order to help promote workplace safety, improve the work environment and to have a means of sanction against employers who failed to be responsible for workplace safety and employee safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Act has been quite successful in many areas, despite its continuing controversy among employers and labor unions, “Since 1970, the work-related fatality rate has been cut in half and overall injury and illness rates have declined in industries where OSHA has concentrated its attention. In some areas the progress has been notable: brown lung disease has been virtually eliminated in the textile industry, and trenching and excavation fatalities have been reduced by 35% since 1970.”
The main provisions of Occupational Safety and Health Act are many and complex. The Act became Public Law 91 on December 29, 1970, and has been amended three times since in November 1990, and July 1998 and September 1998. The Act was given the title of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Compliance Assistance Authorization Act of 1998 by Congress and if we look at the wording of the Act we see that its main mission is as follows: “To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women; by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act; by assisting and encouraging the States in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working conditions; by providing for research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health; and for other purposes.”
There are many provisions of the OSHA Act. The Act is divided into many categories of provisions, definitions, applicability, congressional findings and purpose, employer duties and a host of others. ...