| If you are a laborer, you should know the | | | | As you can see, the purpose of the |
| about the general purpose of the Occupational | | | | Occupational Health and Safety Act is to |
| Health and Safety Act. Though this Act has | | | | protect those that are forced to work in |
| been in place since 1970, it has changed | | | | dangerous conditions. In many ways, this Act |
| drastically since then. | | | | is important to the safety of those workers |
| | | | that find themselves engaged in trecherous |
| Essentially, the purpose of the Occupational | | | | activity daily. However, some employers do |
| Health and Safety Act is to protect all | | | | not believe that the Act benefits them in any |
| laborers that work for any type of | | | | way, and this may be true in many different |
| (non-governmental) business. Prior to this | | | | situations. Some also wonder whether or not |
| act (signed by former President Nixon), an | | | | the Act should actually apply to all forms of |
| industrial workplace was not a safe | | | | business, as some types of businesses present |
| environment for workers. The Act itself is | | | | no type of danger. Still, the Act is set in |
| incredibly interesting, though (quite | | | | place to help those that need it, and this |
| surprisingly) it does not cover some of the | | | | can only be viewed as a positive thing. |
| most dangerous occupations out there. | | | | |
| | | | Thanks to certain progressions such as the |
| The Act states that any "person engaged in a | | | | aforementioned Act, many workers find that |
| business affecting commerce who has | | | | they are able to work without fear. |
| employees, but does not include the United | | | | Unfortunately, there are still some extremely |
| States or any state of political subdivision | | | | dangerous occupations within the nation that |
| of a State." In short, this Act applies to | | | | are not covered by this Act. Will there be a |
| all types of employers including law firms, | | | | few changes to this Act within the next few |
| hospitals, charities, labor unions, | | | | years? Possibly. For now, the Act remains the |
| manufacturers, and private schools. Religious | | | | same. |
| organizations are included in this Act if | | | | |
| they employ workers. Those not covered by the | | | | Though the intent and purpose of the |
| Act include the self-employed, family farms, | | | | Occupational Health and Safety Act remains, |
| and various governmental work areas - nuclear | | | | roughly, the same as it originally did, the |
| weapons manufacturers, railroads, airlines, | | | | years have changed the Act drastically. Many |
| and mining are not covered by this Act. | | | | are optimistic that this Act will be altered |
| | | | once again, though only time will tell. |