Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".   
 

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• C95.6-2002, Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, 0-3 kHz. Defines exposure levels to protect against adverse effects in humans from exposure to electric and magnetic fields at frequencies from 0 to 3 kHz.
• EPRI Comments on the IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, 0 to 3 kHz. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), (2003, January), 280 KB PDF^*, 8 pages. EPRI comments that the IEEE Standard represents a clear advancement in the development and documentation of exposure guidelines in the designated frequency range.

• Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values for Physical Agents, 7th Ed. Provides consensus exposure limits from the Organization of Governmental Industrial Hygienists for Sub-Radiofrequency (30kHz and below) and Static Electric and Magnetic Fields.

• Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300 GHz). (1998), 611 KB PDF, 29 pages. Establishes guidelines for limiting EMF exposure that will provide protection against known adverse health effects. The ICNIRP is an affiliate of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• Radiation. Health Protection Agency - Radiation Protection Division (HPA/RPD). Provides standards of protection for exposure to radiation, which includes electric and magnetic fields. Information sheets are available, including:
  • Application of ICNIRP Exposure Guidelines for 50 Hz Power Frequency Fields. (2005, April). Provides clarification and advice on exposure guidelines for 5- Hz electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) and practical approaches to demonstrating compliance with the 2004 ICNIRP limits.