[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 9]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1977.1]

[Page 192]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                          OF LABOR (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1977_DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EMPLOYEES EXERCISING RIGHTS UNDER THE 
 
Sec. 1977.1  Introductory statement.

WILLIAMS-STEIGER OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT OF 1970
--Table of Contents




                                 General

Sec.
1977.1 Introductory statement.
1977.2 Purpose of this part.
1977.3 General requirements of section 11(c) of the Act.
1977.4 Persons prohibited from discriminating.
1977.5 Persons protected by section 11(c).
1977.6 Unprotected activities distinguished.

                          Specific Protections

1977.9 Complaints under or related to the Act.
1977.10 Proceedings under or related to the Act.
1977.11 Testimony.
1977.12 Exercise of any right afforded by the Act.

                               Procedures

1977.15 Filing of complaint for discrimination.
1977.16 Notification of Secretary of Labor's determination.
1977.17 Withdrawal of complaint.
1977.18 Arbitration or other agency proceedings.

                         Some Specific Subjects

1977.22 Employee refusal to comply with safety rules.
1977.23 State plans.

    Authority: Secs. 8, 11, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
(29 U.S.C. 657, 660); Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754).

    Source: 38 FR 2681, Jan. 29, 1973, unless otherwise noted.

                                 General


    (a) The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 651, 
et seq.), hereinafter referred to as the Act, is a Federal statute of 
general application designed to regulate employment conditions relating 
to occupational safety and health and to achieve safer and healthier 
workplaces through out the Nation. By terms of the Act, every person 
engaged in a business affecting commerce who has employees is required 
to furnish each of his employees employment and a place of employment 
free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death 
or serious physical harm, and, further, to comply with occupational 
safety and health standards prom ul gat ed under the Act. See part 1975 
of this chapter concerning coverage of the Act.
    (b) The Act provides, among other things, for the adoption of 
occupational safety and health standards, research and development 
activities, inspections and investigations of workplaces, and 
recordkeeping requirements. Enforcement procedures initiated by the 
Department of Labor, review proceedings before an independent quasi-
judicial agency (the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission), 
and express judicial review are provided by the Act. In addition, States 
which desire to assume responsibility for development and enforcement of 
standards which are at least as effective as the Federal standards 
published in this chapter may submit plans for such development and 
enforcement of the Secretary of Labor.
    (c) Employees and representatives of employees are afforded a wide 
range of substantive and procedural rights under the Act. Moreover, 
effective implementation of the Act and achievement of its goals depend 
in large part upon the active but orderly participation of employees, 
individually and through their representatives, at every level of safety 
and health activity.
    (d) This part deals essentially with the rights of employees 
afforded under section 11(c) of the Act. Section 11(c) of the Act 
prohibits reprisals, in any form, against employees who exercise rights 
under the Act.