Key Takeaways
- OSHA’s authority has been shaped through landmark Supreme Court and appellate court decisions.
- The cotton dust case clarified that OSHA standards require feasibility analysis, not strict cost-benefit balancing.
- Judicial interpretation reinforced OSHA’s role in setting health standards despite industry resistance.
- The Mallard Bay case expanded OSHA jurisdiction when other federal agencies fail to actively regulate.
- These rulings collectively established OSHA as a central enforcer of workplace safety law.
