OSHA Workplace Safety Laws & Regulations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces the workplace safety standards most U.S. employers are legally required to follow. Under the OSH Act of 1970, employers must comply with all applicable OSHA standards and with the Act's General Duty Clause, which requires every employer to keep the workplace free of recognized, serious hazards — even where no specific standard exists.

How OSHA Standards Are Organized

OSHA standards are published in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and grouped by industry:

• General Industry (29 CFR 1910) — covers most warehouses, offices, manufacturing facilities, and retail operations
• Construction (29 CFR 1926) — job sites, contractors, and construction trades
• Maritime — shipyards, marine terminals, and longshoring
• Agriculture (29 CFR 1928) — farms and agricultural operations

Standards Most Relevant to Emergency & First Aid Preparedness

A few OSHA standards come up again and again for employers building out workplace safety and first aid programs:

• 29 CFR 1910.151 — Medical services and first aid. Requires "adequate first aid supplies" be readily available; OSHA recognizes compliance with the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 minimum-fill standard as one way of meeting this requirement.
• 29 CFR 1910.132 — General requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE).
• 29 CFR 1910.1030 — Bloodborne pathogens, relevant to any workplace where employees may render first aid.

Enforcement

OSHA enforces its standards primarily through inspections, prioritized around imminent danger, fatalities, and worker complaints. Employers found out of compliance can face citations and penalties, in addition to the underlying safety risk to employees.

For the full, current text of any standard, always refer to OSHA's own Laws and Regulations page — the authoritative source, updated as rules change.

Staying Compliant

Keeping a properly stocked, ANSI-compliant first aid kit on-site is one of the most direct ways to address 29 CFR 1910.151. Browse our first aid kit guide or our full range of workplace safety products built to help meet these requirements.