ABSTRACT
In December 1970, Congress passed and President Richard M. Nixon signed into law the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHAct) of 1970, which became effective on April 28, 1971. The Act applies to all businesses involved in or affecting interstate commerce. The OSHAct set up several new organizations. One is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a new organization within the Department of Labor, to set safety and health standards for almost all nongovernmental employers. If the OSHA compliance officer finds a violation of the OSHA standard, he or she must issue a citation to the employer within 6 months of any violation. The Department of Labor is responsible for issuing and enforcing occupational safety and health standards. A third new organization is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within the Department of Health and Human Services. NIOSH’s function is to carry out research and educational functions.
