Workplace Safety: An Overview
Workplace safety involves regulations designed to protect working conditions and eliminate personal injuries and illnesses from occurring in the workplace. Workplace safety regulations/laws consist primarily of federal and state statutes. Federal laws and regulations preempt state ones where they overlap or contradict one another.
Federal Regulations
The main statute protecting the health and safety of workers in the workplace is the Occupational and Safety Health Act (OSHA). OSHA requires the Secretary of Labor to promulgate regulations and safety and health standards to protect employees and their families. Most private sector employers and their workers, as well as some public sector employers and their workers, in the U.S. are subject to OSHA.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) also regulates workplace safety by establishing minimum wages and overtime hours. The FLSA especially protects minors in the workforce by establishing child labor laws which guide the type of work and conditions minors are allowed to engage in. Every private employer who engages in interstate commerce is subject to the FLSA.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulates workplace safety of workers in the U.S. mines. MSHA applies to all U.S. mining and mineral processing operations.
State and Territorial Regulations
States have their own statutes in place to protect their employees and ensure a safe, healthy working environment, such as New York Occupational Safety and Health Standards. Many U.S. states and territories work with OSHA to achieve these goals through a OSHA-approved state plan. For example:
- California Occupational Safety and Health Act (CAL/OSHA) and California Labor Code
- Indiana Division of Occupational Health Compliance (IOSHA).
- Puerto Rico OSH regulations
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]