| The history of Occupational Health and Safety | | | | safe today as a result. |
| Administration (OSHA) is one full of disputes, | | | | Interestingly, the history of occupational health |
| turmoil, and (finally) triumph. This is one | | | | and safety took a curious turn when George H.W. |
| government organization that had a very shaky | | | | Bush took over the presidency. During this time, a |
| start. | | | | lot of the control that the OSHA had was |
| The OSHA was originally erected by Congress | | | | weakened. However, it must be said, during his |
| under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, | | | | administration, the OSHA did implement certain |
| which was put into play by former President | | | | hazardous exposure rules within the workplace |
| Richard Nixon. The act was instilled on December | | | | (the right of workers to know about hazardous |
| 29, 1970 in order to try and stop illness, death, | | | | materials). Once the current president was put |
| and work-related injuries. Essentially, the OSHA | | | | into power, he made a lot of OSHA's rules |
| set forth a number of law, rules, and regulations | | | | voluntary (at the discretion of the management). |
| that all occupational health professionals had to | | | | The many things that happened from the time |
| adhere to. The history of occupational health and | | | | that the OSHA was first originated (1970) to the |
| safety was a messy one before the OSHA was | | | | current status of the OSHA (2008) are worth |
| created. | | | | looking into. Although this organization was first |
| Prior to the formation of the OSHA, many | | | | created in order to protect workers within a |
| businesses did not have any type of safety | | | | dangerous work space, many of the rules |
| regulation set in place to protect workers. In fact, | | | | originally put into place are no longer in existence. |
| many workers found themselves at the mercy | | | | Still, the OSHA is an important part of today's |
| of machines that were in no way safe. Once the | | | | workplace. |
| OSHA began controlling the workplace | | | | As you can tell, the history of occupational health |
| environment, businesses were forced to change | | | | and safety really took a turn for the better once |
| the level of safety within certain facilities. Of | | | | the OSHA was created. However, recent |
| course, this instigated many different protests | | | | developments involving this government |
| from companies that did not want to spend the | | | | organization are quite curious. Regardless, thanks |
| time and money to update machinery. However, | | | | to this organization, many are able to work in a |
| the OSHA prevailed, and many workplaces are | | | | safer environment today. |