OSHA

OSHA was created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and sits within the Department of Labor. Its job is to ensure safe working conditions by setting standards, enforcing them through inspections and citations, and providing training and outreach.

Several OSHA rules matter most when working with chemicals. HazCom (29 CFR 1910.1200) covers labels, safety data sheets, and training. The air contaminant rule (29 CFR 1910.1000) sets permissible exposure limits. The respiratory protection rule (29 CFR 1910.134) governs respirator programs, including fit testing.

OSHA covers most private-sector employers. Some states run their own approved plans, which must be at least as effective as the federal rules, and public-sector workers are often covered by state programs. Certain industries, such as construction and maritime, have separate standards.

OSHA is distinct from NIOSH, which does research and makes recommendations but cannot enforce rules, and from ACGIH, a private professional body that publishes guidelines. Their values often feed into OSHA's decisions, but they carry no force of law unless adopted.

OSHA also has a general duty clause, which requires employers to protect workers from recognized serious hazards even when no specific standard applies.