US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

29 U.S.C. § 653

Geographic applicability; judicial enforcement; applicability to existing standards; report to Congress on duplication and coordination of Federal laws; workmen’s compensation law or common law or statutory rights, duties, or liabilities of employers and employees unaffected

(a)
43 U.S.C. 1331 This chapter shall apply with respect to employment performed in a workplace in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Wake Island, Outer Continental Shelf lands defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act [ et seq.], Johnston Island, and the Canal Zone. The Secretary of the Interior shall, by regulation, provide for judicial enforcement of this chapter by the courts established for areas in which there are no United States district courts having jurisdiction.
(b)
(1)
section 2021 of title 42 Nothing in this chapter shall apply to working conditions of employees with respect to which other Federal agencies, and State agencies acting under , exercise statutory authority to prescribe or enforce standards or regulations affecting occupational safety or health.
(2)
1
1 See References in Text note below.
1Public Law 91–54Public Law 85–74220 U.S.C. 951 The safety and health standards promulgated under the Act of , commonly known as the Walsh-Healey Act, the Service Contract Act of 1965, , Act of , , Act of , and the National Foundation on Arts and Humanities Act [ et seq.] are superseded on the effective date of corresponding standards, promulgated under this chapter, which are determined by the Secretary to be more effective. Standards issued under the laws listed in this paragraph and in effect on or after the effective date of this chapter shall be deemed to be occupational safety and health standards issued under this chapter, as well as under such other Acts.
(3)
The Secretary shall, within three years after the effective date of this chapter, report to the Congress his recommendations for legislation to avoid unnecessary duplication and to achieve coordination between this chapter and other Federal laws.
(4)
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to supersede or in any manner affect any workmen’s compensation law or to enlarge or diminish or affect in any other manner the common law or statutory rights, duties, or liabilities of employers and employees under any law with respect to injuries, diseases, or death of employees arising out of, or in the course of, employment.

Pub. L. 91–596, § 484 Stat. 1592(, , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act Aug. 7, 1953, ch. 34567 Stat. 462section 1301 of Title 43The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is , , which is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1331 et seq.) of chapter 29 of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

section 3602(b) of Title 22For definition of Canal Zone, referred to in subsec. (a), see , Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

act June 30, 1936, ch. 88149 Stat. 2036Pub. L. 111–350124 Stat. 3677section 101 of Title 41section 101 of Title 41Act of , commonly known as the Walsh-Healey Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is , , which was classified principally to sections 35 to 45 of former Title 41, Public Contracts, and was substantially repealed and restated as chapter 65 (§ 6501 et seq.) of Title 41, Public Contracts, by , §§ 3, 7(b), , , 3855. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1936 Act note set out under and Tables. For disposition of sections of former Title 41, see Disposition Table preceding .

Pub. L. 89–28679 Stat. 1034Pub. L. 111–350124 Stat. 3677section 101 of Title 41The Service Contract Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), was , , , which was classified generally to chapter 6 (§ 351 et seq.) of former Title 41, Public Contracts, and was repealed and restated as chapter 67 (§ 6701 et seq.) of Title 41, Public Contracts, by , §§ 3, 7(b), , , 3855. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of sections of former Title 41, see Disposition Table preceding .

Public Law 91–54Pub. L. 91–5483 Stat. 96section 107 of Pub. L. 87–58176 Stat. 357Pub. L. 87–581section 107 of Pub. L. 87–581Pub. L. 87–581section 107 of Pub. L. 87–581Pub. L. 107–217116 Stat. 1062, Act of , referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is , , , which amended sections 1 and 2 and added , , . Sections 1 and 2 of were set out as notes under section 327, and was classified to section 333, of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works. Sections 1 and 2 of were repealed, and was repealed and reenacted as sections 3704 and 3705 of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, by , §§ 1, 6(b), , , 1304.

Public Law 85–742Pub. L. 85–74272 Stat. 835section 941 of Title 33section 941 of Title 33, Act of , referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is , , , which amended , Navigation and Navigable Waters, and enacted provisions set out as a note under . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Pub. L. 89–20979 Stat. 845section 951 of Title 20The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is , , , known as the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 951 et seq.) of chapter 26 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 91–596section 34 of Pub. L. 91–596section 651 of this titleThe effective date of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), (3), is the effective date of , which is 120 days after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

EPA Administrator Not Exercising “Statutory Authority” Under This Section in Exercising Any Authority Under Toxic Substances Control Act

15 U.S.C. 2601section 15(a) of Pub. L. 101–637section 15(b) of Pub. L. 101–637section 2646 of Title 15In exercising any authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act ( et seq.) in connection with amendment made by , the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency not, for purposes of subsection (b)(1) of this section, to be considered to be exercising statutory authority to prescribe or enforce standards or regulations affecting occupational safety and health, see , set out as a note under , Commerce and Trade.

Executive Documents

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

section 1681 of Title 48For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding , Territories and Insular Possessions.