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 Washington (WA), workplace safety and health are regulated by both federal and state laws. Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), employers are required to provide a safe working environment that is free of known hazards. This is codified in the United States Code at 29 U.S.C. §651, with regulations detailed in the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 C.F.R. §1910. The OSH Act established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards, as well as offering training and assistance to both employers and workers. Washington State operates its own Occupational Safety and Health program under a plan approved by OSHA. This program, known as Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA), is administered by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). WISHA standards may be more stringent than federal OSHA standards, and employers in Washington must comply with these state-specific regulations to ensure the safety and health of their workers.