Why OSHA was Created

In the two years preceding OSHA’s enactment, 14000 workers died each year from workplace hazards, and another 2 million were disabled or harmed. Additionally, the “chemical revolution” following WWII introduced a vast array of new chemical compounds to the manufacturing environment. The health effects of these chemicals were poorly understood, and workers received few protections against prolonged or high levels of exposure. While a few states, such as California and New York, had enacted workplace safety as well as workplace health legislation, most states had not changed their workplace protection laws since the turn of the century. The OSHAct went into effect on April 28, 1971 (now celebrated as Workers’ Memorial Day). This clip is from the 1980 film, OSHA. That entire film is available at www.youtube.com