Government Workplace Health & Safety

In 1970, the United States Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It consisted of a set of rules meant to ensure that employers offer their employees a safe and healthy environment, free from exposure to toxins, high levels of noise or mechanical dangers.

Regulations

• The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, has adopted safety regulations for general, construction, maritime and agriculture industries. OSHA representatives conduct regular inspections to ensure employers adopt methods and strategies to prevent workers' injuries or fatalities. They also require practical solutions or modifications of the workplace to limit or eliminate exposure to hazards.

Types of Hazards

• Some hazards that seriously affect workers' health are exposure to chemical substances, accidental contact with electricity--that may cause electrocutions, burns or electric shocks--and the improper handling of heavy equipment. Workers' continuous and consistent health and safety training may reduce the risks of injuries and death.

Traumatic Occupational Injuries

• According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the most occupational injuries occur in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Other occupations with a high number of traumatic injury cases are commercial aviation, professions that require working in confined spaces and firefighting. OSHA provides training programs that modify behaviors, develop health and safety practices and improve working conditions.