The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the primary federal law which governs occupational health and safety in the private sector and federal government in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It was enacted by Congress in 1970 and was signed by President

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...

 on December 29, 1970. Its main goal is to ensure that employers provide employees with an environment free from recognized hazards, such as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary conditions.

The Act can be found in the United States Code

United States Code

The Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...

 at title 29, chapter 15.
Efforts by the federal government to ensure workplace health and safety were minimal until the passage of OSHA.