The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established as an agency of the federal government charged with protecting workers from recognized workplace safety hazards of Work. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created following the passage of the “Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 in response to hazardous working conditions across the nation and as the culmination of decades of reform” (Walter, 2011, para 5). President Richard Nixon signed the bill into law on December 29, 1970, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was officially established on April 28, 1971 (Walter, 2011). During its 41 years of work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has identified and addressed numerous workplace hazards, as well as provided solutions to mitigate and/or avoid placing workers in unnecessary danger. OSHA regulates how it enforces regulations across the country, however the agency states that "states may operate their own safety and health programs as long as those programs are at least as effective as the federal program" (http://www. dol.gov /compliance/laws/comp-osha.htm). States that choose to implement their own version of the occupational safety and health plan are referred to as OSHA states, while those that do not implement any plan are required to follow federal regulations, as established by OSHA. OSHA affects all workers and employers in the United States, as the intended effect of the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act is to "ensure, to the extent possible, every man and woman working in the Nation safe and healthy working conditions and to preserve our working conditions". human resources” (Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act, 1970). OS......at the heart of the card...firefighters nationwide, providing greater levels of safety for both firefighters and the citizens they were sworn to protect. The Respiratory Protection Standard also provided a benefit that perhaps many did not recognize, nor can it be adequately measured, however many firefighters are now retiring in good health and living longer, quality lives after retirement thanks to the benefits healthcare provided to them through the implementation of the respiratory protection standard. Respiratory protection standards. References Dalbey, S. (1999, August 1). A new look at two-in/two-out. Fire chief. Retrieved from http://firechief.com/mag/firefighting_fresh_look_twointwooutWalter, L. (2011). Four Decades of OSHA: A Chronology. Retrieved from http://ehstoday.com/standards/osha/four-decades-osha-timeline-0427/Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 CFR § 1975.3 et seq. (Author 1970).