The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) was passed to prevent workers from being killed or seriously harmed at work. The law requires that employers provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers. The Act created OSHA, which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards.
In addition to laying the groundwork for OSHA to promulgate the standards for safety and health, such as the 1903, 1904, and 1910 regulations in this Guide, the Act also contains the provision that has become known as the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)), as well as other provisions that can be useful for employers in understanding their rights and responsibilities under OSHA standards.