- The Occupational Health and Safety Act guarantees employees the right to safe working conditions. This means that any known hazards to the physical well-being of employees must be removed.
- Workers have the right to ask for a federal inspection of their employer's facilities. They have a right to have the complaint kept confidential, as well as to speak privately with the inspectors. Also, employees may follow along with inspectors as they tour the facilities. Retaliating against an employee for reporting violations or requesting an inspection is illegal.
- Private-sector workers in the United States are all protected by OHSA, except for workers with separate regulations specific to their industry. For example, airline workers rights are protected by the Federal Aviation Administration. Federal employees are covered by OSHA, but state and local government employees are protected by their state's laws.
- Individual states have their own administrations to protect workers. These laws may require more protection than the federal law. For example, some states have higher minimum wages than the federal minimum wage. State laws also determine specifics such as overtime wages.
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