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 Virginia, workplace safety is governed by both federal and state regulations. 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 act, found at 29 U.S.C. §651, and its regulations at 29 C.F.R. §1910, established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is responsible for setting and enforcing safety and health standards. OSHA also offers resources for training and assistance to both employers and employees. Virginia operates its own state plan approved by OSHA, known as the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program, which has standards and enforcement policies that may be different from federal OSHA but must be at least as effective in providing safe and healthful employment. This means that in Virginia, employers must comply with both federal OSHA regulations and any additional state-specific safety and health standards set by VOSH.