Introduction: At the start of the twentieth century, the safety and health of American workers was at a very low level. Despite a few states attempting to pass safety laws, these policies lacked public support. This article will provide an overview of what the status of US workplace safety laws was in 1900.
OSHA’s 30th Anniversary
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was passed in 1970 and marked a major milestone in workplace safety in America. Prior to this time, safety standards had not been fully enforced or even attempted. The late 1960s saw a period of social and political unrest in the US. This atmosphere of turmoil helped to spark the development of workplace safety regulations, with New Jersey Senator Harrison A. Williams Jr. being one of the key advocates for its passing.
Status of US Workplace Safety Laws in 1900
In 1900, the US had few, if any, workplace safety laws in place. A few states had attempted to pass such laws, however, they were met with no public support. This meant that employers were under no obligation to enforce any safety standards in the workplace. This caused workers to be exposed to high levels of risk of injury or even death while on the job.
Improvements in Workplace Safety
Since 1900, there has been an improvement in workplace safety. OSHA was one of the major milestones in this movement, with the act providing standards for all employers and workers in the US. OSHA has also worked to raise public awareness of the importance of workplace safety. This has helped to ensure that employers are more compliant with safety standards when it comes to their workers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the status of US workplace safety laws in 1900 was one of minimal or non-existent regulation of safety standards. However, in the years since then there have been major improvements in the area of workplace safety. This can be attributed to the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970 and the subsequent efforts of OSHA to raise public awareness and enforce safety standards.