Occupational Safety And Health Act Osha

1970 legislation that set federal standards for workplace safety and imposed fines for failure to meet them. A controversial law, it took much of the power from the states for regulating workplace safety. It authorized the U.S. Department of Labor to have federal compliance officers make surprise inspections of business firms. It set up the national commission of state workers compensation laws to recommend upgrade of worker protection, including higher disability benefits, compulsory coverage, and unlimited medical care and rehabilitation. Most states adopted the recommendations, which incidentally led to increases in workers compensation insurance premiums.