This is all good information for people to know.  Often times, employers simply don't know the rules because it isn't clear where to find them and how they apply.  This is especially true in cases where there are both federal and state regulatory agencies.  If the author wants material to write about for a while on this subject, look up the Occupational Safety and Health regulations.  Alaska runs it's own "OSHA" program and has a few state specific requirements that the 'Feds do not have.  It is common for employers to be unaware of these since they are not that well advertised.