The following Q & A has been selected from Employment Law Answer Book, co-authored by Mark R. Filipp.

Q 7:1 Which law governs job safety?

The primary law governing on-the-job safety is the OSH Act, which was passed by Congress in 1970.

Q 7:2 What was Congress’s intent in enacting the OSH Act?

During the late 1960s, approximately 14,500 workers were killed each year as a result of occupational or industrial accidents. Many others were exposed to hazardous substances and contracted diseases related to their working conditions. Congress passed the Act to limit workers’ exposure to occupational hazards.

Q 7:4 What are the goals of the OSH Act?

The Act has two broad goals: (1) to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women; and (2) to provide a framework for research, education, training, and information in the field of occupational safety and health.

This text originally appeared in Employment Law Answer Book, Ninth Edition (Wolters Kluwer, 2016). Reprinted with permission.