Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), workers have the right to a safe workplace. The OSH Act was passed to prevent workers from being killed or otherwise harmed at work. The law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers. The OSH Act is located in the United States Code at 29 U.S.C. §651, and the applicable regulations are located in the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 C.F.R. §1910.

The OSH Act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards. OSHA also provides information, training, and assistance to employers and workers.

And most states have additional laws (statutes) that govern safety and health in the workplace.

In Minnesota, as in all states, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) provides the baseline for worker safety. The OSH Act, found at 29 U.S.C. §651, aims to ensure that employers provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that could cause death or serious harm to employees. The enforcement of these standards is carried out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which also offers training and assistance. Minnesota operates under the federal OSHA program and does not have a state-specific occupational safety and health plan. Therefore, the federal OSHA regulations at 29 C.F.R. §1910 are the primary regulations that apply to workplace safety in the state. While Minnesota does not have its own occupational safety and health plan, it may have additional state laws and regulations that complement the federal standards by providing further protections or addressing specific local concerns related to workplace safety and health.