Which U.S. law established the federal right to a workplace free from recognized safety and health hazards?

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established the federal right to a workplace free from recognized safety and health hazards.

Signed by President Richard Nixon on December 29, 1970, the law created a national framework for reducing workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. It applies broadly to employers and workers in the United States, although several categories, including some public-sector workers and self-employed people, are treated differently under the statute.

The law authorized federal workplace-safety standards, inspections, citations, penalties, and requirements for employers to keep certain safety records. It also protects workers who exercise rights under the law, such as reporting hazards or participating in inspections.

A common mix-up is confusing the law with OSHA, the agency created to administer and enforce it. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; the statute itself is the Occupational Safety and Health Act.