Institute for Research on Labor and Employment

On April 28, 1971, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) came into being. While some states had laws and agencies in place to regulate certain workplace health and safety hazards, the establishment of OSHA following passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act meant the federal government was able to intervene for the first time to regulate workplace health and safety conditions and protect workers. From its inception, the agency has been the focus of considerable political controversy. Virtually the only point on which both supporters and detractors are likely to agree is that the agency has had a profound impact on the American workplace.