Final answer:
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is the governmental agency responsible for protecting workers from environmental hazards, established by an act signed by President Nixon in 1970.
Step-by-step explanation:
The abbreviation for the governmental agency that protects workers from environmental hazards is OSHA, which stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This agency is part of the United States Department of Labor and was established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon on December 29, 1970. OSHA's mission is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.
OSHA is crucial because it has the authority to issue workplace health and safety regulations, which include limits on hazardous chemical exposure, employee access to hazard information, requirements for the use of personal protective equipment, and requirements to prevent falls and hazards from operating dangerous equipment. Its creation was aimed at protecting workers from physical harm in the workplace, and it is recognized for its role in reducing occupational fatalities, injuries, and illnesses.