Introduction to OSHA — General Industry

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established OSHA within the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers across the United States. The Act covers most private sector employers and their workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several other U.S. territories. Some states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved 'State Plans,' which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA. Public sector workers (state and local government) are covered only in states with approved State Plans. Federal workers are covered by the federal agency equivalent of OSHA standards.

General industry encompasses the broadest range of workplaces — manufacturing plants, warehouses, healthcare facilities, retail establishments, processing facilities, and more. OSHA's General Industry standards are found in 29 CFR Part 1910. When a specific 1910 standard covers a hazard, it takes precedence. When no specific standard applies, the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) requires employers to address recognized hazards. Employers must also comply with horizontal (general) standards for PPE, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, and other cross-cutting topics.

Worker rights under the OSH Act are fundamental: the right to a safe and healthful workplace, the right to receive information about hazards, the right to request an OSHA inspection, the right to participate in inspections (walkaround rights), the right to review relevant records including exposure monitoring and injury/illness logs, and the right to report injuries and hazards without retaliation. Section 11(c) prohibits retaliation against workers who exercise these rights. Workers who believe they have been retaliated against must file a complaint with OSHA within 30 days of the adverse action.