OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA's Mission
With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 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.
Organization
OSHA is part of the United States Department of Labor. The administrator for OSHA is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. OSHA's administrator answers to the Secretary of Labor, who is a member of the cabinet of the President of the United States.
OSHA Organizational ChartOSHA Directory
National Office, Frances Perkins Bldg., Washington,
D.C.Regional and Area OfficesState Plan OfficesConsultation Program OfficesFind Locations of OSHA OfficesOSHA Coverage
The OSH Act covers employers and their employees either directly through federal OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state program. State programs must meet or exceed federal OSHA standards for workplace safety and health.
Each year the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) collects work-related injury and illness data from employers within specific industry and employment size specifications. This data collection is called the OSHA Data Initiative or ODI. The data provided is used by OSHA to calculate establishment specific injury and illness incidence rates. This searchable database contains a table with the name, address, industry, and associated Total Case Rate (TCR), Days Away, Restricted, and Transfer (DART) case rate, and the Days Away From Work (DAFWII) case rate for the establishments that provided OSHA with valid data for calendar years 1996 through 2008.
Explanatory Notes
Scope of the data: For each data collection cycle, OSHA only collects data from a small portion of all private sector establishments in the United States (80,000 out of 7.5 million total establishments). Therefore, these data are not representative of all businesses and general conclusions pertaining to all US business should not be drawn.
Data quality: While OSHA takes multiple steps to ensure the data collected is accurate, problems and errors invariably exist for a small percentage of establishments. OSHA does not believe the data for the establishments with the highest rates on this file are accurate in absolute terms. Efforts were made during the collection cycle to correct submission errors, however some remain unresolved. It would be a mistake to say establishments with the highest rates on this file are the "most dangerous" or "worst" establishments in the Nation.
Rate Calculation: An incidence rate of injuries and illnesses is computed from the following formula: (Number of injuries and illnesses X 200,000) / Employee hours worked = Incidence rate. The TCR includes all cases recorded on the OSHA Form 300 (Column G + Column H + Column I + Column J). The Dart includes cases recorded in Column H + Column I. The DAFWII includes cases recorded in Column H. For further information on injury and illness incidence rates, please visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics' webpage at http://www.bls.gov/iif/osheval.htmState Participation: Not all state plan states participate in the ODI. The following states did not participate in the 2009 ODI (collection of CY 2008 data), establishment data is not available for these states: Alaska; Arizona; Oregon; Puerto Rico; South Carolina; Virginia; Washington; Wyoming.
The State of Minnesota has informed OSHA that disclosure of the most current data would have an adverse effect on its enforcement proceedings because of the way its enforcement targeting lists are prepared and administered. We are withholding the CY 2008 Minnesota data because it meets the criteria of Exemption 7(A) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Workers' rights under the OSH Act
Workers are entitled to working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm. To help assure a safe and healthful workplace, OSHA also provides workers with the right to:
Ask OSHA to inspect their workplace;
Use their rights under the law without retaliation and discrimination;
Receive information and training about hazards, methods to prevent harm, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace. The training must be in a language you can understand;
Get copies of test results done to find hazards in the workplace;
Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses;
Get copies of their medical records;
Who OSHA Covers
Private Sector Workers
Most employees in the nation come under OSHA's jurisdiction. OSHA covers private sector employers and employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other U.S. jurisdictions either directly through Federal OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state program. State run health and safety programs must be at least as effective as the Federal OSHA program. To find the contact information for the OSHA Federal or State Program office nearest you, see the Regional and Area Offices map.
State and Local Government Workers
Employees who work for state and local governments are not covered by federal OSHA, but have OSH Act protections if they work in those states that have an OSHA-approved state program. Four additional states and one U.S. territory have OSHA approved plans that cover public sector employees only. This includes: Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin Islands. Private sector workers in these four states and the Virgin Islands are covered by federal OSHA.
Federal Government Workers
Federal agencies must have a safety and health program that meet the same standards as private employers. Although OSHA does not fine federal agencies, it does monitor federal agencies and responds to workers' complaints. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is covered by OSHA.
Who is not covered by the OSH Act:Self employed;
Immediate family members of farm employers that do not employ outside employees; and
Workers who are protected by another Federal agency (for example the Mine Safety and Health Administration, FAA, Coast Guard).
OSHA standards: Protection on the Job
OSHA standards are rules that describe the methods that employers must use to protect their employees from hazards.
There are OSHA standards for Construction work, Agriculture, Maritime operations, and General Industry, which are the standards that apply to most worksites. These standards limit the amount of hazardous chemicals workers can be exposed to, require the use of certain safe practices and equipment, and require employers to monitor hazards and keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses. Examples of OSHA standards include requirements to: provide fall protection, prevent trenching cave ins, prevent infectious diseases, assure that workers safely enter confined spaces, prevent exposure to harmful substances like asbestos, put guards on machines, provide respirators or other safety equipment, and provide training for certain dangerous
jobs.
Employers must also comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, which requires employers to keep their workplace free of serious recognized hazards. This clause is generally cited when no OSHA standard applies to the hazard.
Workers can ask OSHA to Inspect their Workplace
Workers, or their representatives, may file a complaint and ask OSHA to inspect their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or their employer is not following OSHA standards. A worker can tell OSHA not to let their employer know who filed the complaint. It is against the Act for an employer to fire, demote, transfer or discriminate in any way against a worker for filing a complaint or using other OSHA rights.
You can file a complaint online; download the form and mail or fax it to the nearest OSHA office; or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). Most complaints sent in on line may be resolved informally over the phone with your employer. Written complaints that are signed by a worker or their representative and submitted to the closest OSHA office are more likely to result in onsite OSHA inspections.
When the OSHA inspector arrives, workers and their representatives have the right to:
Go on the inspection.
Talk privately with the OSHA inspector.
Be part of meetings with the inspector and the employer before and after the inspection is conducted.
Where there is no union or employee representative, the OSHA inspector must talk confidentially with a reasonable number of workers during the course of the investigation.
An inspector who finds violations of OSHA standards or serious hazards may issue citations and fines. A citation includes the methods an employer must use to fix a problem and the date by when the corrective actions must be completed. Workers only have the right to challenge the deadline for when a problem must be resolved. Employers, on the other hand, have the right to contest whether there is a violation or any other part of the citation. Workers or their representatives must notify OSHA that they want to be involved in the appeals process if the employer challenges a citation.
If you send in a complaint requesting an OSHA inspection, you have the right to find out the results of the OSHA inspection and request a review if OSHA decides not to issue citations.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe workplace. Employers MUST provide their employees with a workplace that does not have serious hazards and follow all relevant OSHA safety and health standards. Employers must find and correct safety and health problems. OSHA further requires that employers have to try to eliminate or reduce hazards first by making changes in working conditions rather than just relying on masks, gloves, ear plugs or other types of personal protective equipment (ppe). Switching to safer chemicals, enclosing processes to trap harmful fumes, or using ventilation systems to clean the air are examples of effective ways to get rid of or minimize risks.
Employers MUST also:
Inform employees about hazards through training, labels, alarms, color-coded systems, chemical information sheets and other methods.
Keep accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
Perform tests in the workplace, such as air sampling required by some OSHA standards.
Provide hearing exams or other medical tests required by OSHA standards.
Post OSHA citations, injury and illness data, and the OSHA poster in the workplace where workers will see them.
Notify OSHA within 8 hours of a workplace incident in which there is a death or three or more workers go to a hospital.
Not discriminate or retaliate against an employee for using their rights under the law
You Cannot be Punished or Discriminated against for using your OSHA Rights
The OSH Act protects workers who complain to their employer, OSHA or other government agencies about unsafe or unhealthful working conditions in the workplace or environmental problems. You cannot be transferred, denied a raise, have your hours reduced, be fired, or punished in any other way because you used any right afforded to you under the OSHA Act. Help is available from OSHA for whistleblowersIf you have been punished or discriminated against for using your rights, you must file a complaint with OSHA within 30 days of the alleged reprisal for most complaints. No form is required, but you must send a letter or call the OSHA Area Office nearest you to report the discrimination (within 30 days of the alleged discrimination).
What to do if there is a Dangerous Situation at Work
If you believe working conditions are unsafe or unhealthful, we recommend that you bring the conditions to your employer's attention, if possible.
You may file a complaint with OSHA concerning a hazardous working condition at any time. However, you should not leave the worksite merely because you have filed a complaint. If the condition clearly presents a risk of death or serious physical harm, there is not sufficient time for OSHA to inspect, and, where possible, you have brought the condition to the attention of your employer, you may have a legal right to refuse to work in a situation in which you would be exposed to the hazard.
Additional Information for Workers
Has my employer ever been inspected by OSHA?
You can research your employer's inspection history through OSHA's Establishment Search. Type in the name of your company and choose the dates you want to cover.
What is the most commonly cited hazard in my industry?
You'll need to know your employer's Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code. Once you know your four-digit code, visit OSHA's Frequently Cited OSHA Standards page, enter your SIC code and view the information for last year.
Does OSHA provide technical information on hazards?
OSHA provides technical information to assist workers, employers, and safety and health professionals in reducing occupational injuries and illnesses. Find information on bloodborne pathogens, machine guarding, ergonomics or fall protection, for example.
What materials does OSHA have of interest to workers?
OSHA publishes a variety of publications on a range of subjects. Some of the most useful publications for workers are listed below. See OSHA Publications for a complete listing of agency printed materials or to order publications online.
Additional Resources
Employee Workplace RightsChemical Hazard CommunicationGuidelines For Preventing Workplace Violence For Health Care and Social Service WorkersHearing ConservationHeat Stress Card -- English | SpanishHow To Prepare For Workplace EmergenciesJob Safety & Health Protection PosterOSHA Fact SheetsOSHA InspectionsPersonal Protective EquipmentRecommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail EstablishmentsNIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation ProgramOSHA Approved State Programs
If you work in the following twenty-two states or territory, you are covered by a State run workplace safety and health agency:
Alaska ArizonaCaliforniaHawaiiIndianaIowaKentucky MarylandMichiganMinnesotaNevadaNew MexicoNorth CarolinaOregon South CarolinaTennesseeUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWyomingPuerto Rico

OSHA Regional Offices
Region IBoston Regional Office(CT,* ME, MA, NH, RI, VT*) JFK Federal Building, Room E340Boston, MA 02203(617) 565-9860(617) 565-9827 FAX Region IINew York Regional Office(NJ,* NY,* PR,* VI*)201 Varick Street, Room 670New York, NY 10014(212) 337-2378(212) 337-2371 FAX
Region IIIPhiladelphia Regional Office(DE, DC, MD,* PA, VA,* WV)The Curtis Center-Suite 740 West170 S.
Independence Mall WestPhiladelphia, PA 19106-3309(215) 861-4900(215) 861-4904 FAX Region IVAtlanta Regional Office(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC,* SC,* TN*)61 Forsyth Street, SWRoom 6T50Atlanta, Georgia 30303(404) 562-2300(404) 562-2295 FAX
Region VChicago Regional Office(lL*, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3244Chicago, Illinois 60604(312) 353-2220(312) 353-7774 FAX Region VIDallas Regional Office(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)525 Griffin Street, Suite 602Dallas, Texas 75202(972) 850-4145(972) 850-4149 FAX[phone] FSO FAX
Region VIIKansas City Regional Office(IA,* KS, MO, NE)Two Pershing Square Building2300 Main Street, Suite 1010Kansas City, Missouri 64108-2416(816) 283-8745(816) 283-0547 FAX Region VIIIDenver Regional Office(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT,* WY*)1999 Broadway, Suite 1690Denver, Colorado 80202720-264-6550720-264-6585
FAX
Region IXSan Francisco Regional Office(AZ,* CA,* HI,* NV,* and American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands)90 7th Street, Suite 18100San Francisco, California 94103(415) 625-2547(415)625-2534 FAX Region XSeattle Regional Office(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715Seattle, Washington 98101-3212(206) 553-5930(206) 553-6499 FAX
* These states and territories operate their own OSHA approved job safety and health programs and cover state and local government employees as well as private sector employees. The Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Virgin Islands plans cover public employees only. States with approved programs must have standards that are identical to, or at least as effective as, the Federal OSHA standards.Note: To get contact information for OSHA Area Offices, OSHA approved State Plans and OSHA Consultation Projects, please visit us online at www.osha.gov or call us at 1800-321-0SHA.Accessibility AssistanceContact the Office of Communications at [phone] for assistance accessing OSHA PDF materials.

Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP)
The Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP) provides the OSHA family and the public with guidance on how to comply with the requirements of OSHA standards. DEP provides this guidance in the form of Directives and Interpretations that detail or explain how Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHO's) are to enforce OSHA standards and how employers are expected to comply with OSHA standards. DEP provides guidance in the areas of general industry, maritime, whistleblower investigations, federal agencies, and in health areas of the construction industry. OSHA standards covered are 29 CFR Parts 1910, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1919 and portions of 1926 and 1960. DEP monitors Inspection Data and Statistics to identify trends in industry. DEP also works closely with the Directorate of Standards and Guidance and the rest of the OSHA family in the development of new information and ways of protecting workers from safety and health hazards, such as Ergonomic Hazards.