Many states, however, have enacted few laws and failed to appropriate the proper funds to enforce the laws. As the American - worker continued to suffer crippling accidents and death at an accelerated rate, the need for federal legislation became evident. While individual states may still develop and enforce their own health and safety programs, these programs must be at least as effective as the federal program set forth in the Act. The purpose of OSHA is to assure, as far as possible, safe and healthy working conditions for the American workers. These standards are measures of safety formulated to reduce employees exposure to hazardous conditions.
Some standards govern all worksites generally, and other standards address specific industries.
The Act requires employer compliance with these standards. Although employers may be allowed input on which standards are adopted and can contest standards believed to be unfair, once the standard is adopted and published by OSHA, noncompliance by an employer is grounds for enforcement. The clause is intended to cover serious hazards for which there are no specific standards in place, so that employees are always entitled to a relatively safe workplace. Noncompliance by an employer is also grounds for enforcement. In order to accomplish the purpose of the OSHA, employees are afforded certain rights.