The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1970, and, in addition to other things, the OSH Act called for the creation of an agency to develop regulations to effectuate its purpose and administer its requirements. The OSH Act, whose purpose is to “assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women,” regulates all private-sector employment, and it specifically exempts federal and state employment. The OSH Act allows states to develop and administer their own plans, known as “state plans.” State plans generally regulate both private- and public-sector employment. Some states created agencies to regulate health and safety in public-sector employment while OSHA regulates private-sector employment. Currently, twenty-one states and Puerto Rico administer state plans that cover private employers.
