The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established over fifty years ago making safe workplaces no longer a luxury reserved for a select few. Thanks to OSHA, every worker now has the right to a safe workplace.
Prior to 1970, workers in the U.S. lacked reasonable standards to keep them safe and healthy on the job. As improvements have been made broadly in America’s workplaces over the last five decades, the death toll from accidents and diseases has been reduced significantly thanks to the efforts of OSHA. That being said, there is certainly still room for improvement.
Looking Back
The Occupational Safety and Health Act, which established a new government department to regulate and enforce workplace safety and health laws for American workers, was signed on December 29, 1970. OSHA initially opened its doors on April 28, 1971, and the last half-century has worked to reshape America’s workplaces for the better.
Through the Years
The first OSHA standard-issue provided asbestos protection for workers. In the first decade, health requirements for lead, carcinogens, and cotton dust, as well as common worksite safety norms, were established. Initial regulations have helped decrease worker exposure to these dangers, preventing employees from dying, developing chronic illnesses, or suffering major injuries.
OSHA developed guidelines that gave workers the right to know which chemicals they might be vulnerable to, requiring businesses to provide medical and exposure information to workers and their doctors. The agency also formed the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), helping corporations, labor organizations, and other organizations collaborate with OSHA to promote workplace health and safety through cooperative initiatives.
Chemical Process Safety Management was established as a standard in the 1990s to safeguard workers from chemical fire hazards and explosions. At OSHA Education Centers, safety and health training became publicly available for the first time, and the new Strategic Partnership Program increased employer engagement.
Fall prevention, youth safety, heat illness, trench safety, and suicide prevention are among the many projects implemented by OSHA to address major workplace issues. And in 2020, OSHA worked in earnest to protect employees as COVID-19 became a global pandemic.
There is no question that OSHA standards make an impact and OSHA has made considerable headway toward its mission over the last 50 years. As OSHA celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is clear the agency’s goal is just as critical today as when the OSH Act was first signed.
We owe it to the laborers who get up every day and work to defend their basic right to a safe and healthy work environment. Their work supports employers, families, and communities while keeping the economy moving forward. When it comes to strengthening the economy, safety and health should always come first, regardless of industry, business size, or market sector.
