§651 Congressional statement of findings and declaration of purpose and policy

Summary

Congress says job injuries and illnesses cost a lot. They harm trade between states by cutting production and wages and by raising medical and disability costs. Congress wants to make workplaces safe and protect every worker, using its power to regulate interstate trade and promote the public good. To do that, it pushes employers and workers to cut hazards and improve safety programs. It says employers and workers each have separate but connected duties and rights. It lets the Secretary of Labor set required workplace safety and health rules for businesses that affect interstate commerce and creates a Review Commission to decide contested cases. It also supports research (including mental health and disease links to work), sets medical criteria to prevent loss of health, trains safety personnel, creates and issues standards, enforces rules (including banning advance notice of inspections and punishing violators), helps states with grants and planning, improves reporting, and encourages joint labor‑management efforts to reduce injuries and illness.