OSHA 2098

2002 (Revised)
U.S. Department of Labor

Elaine L. Chao, Secretary

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

John L. Henshaw, Assistant Secretary

OSHA 2098

2002 (Revised)

OSHA Inspections
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Contents

Background .................................................................... 1

What are OSHA’s inspection priorities? ............................ 3

How does a compliance officer

prepare for the inspection? .............................................. 6

What does the inspection process involve? ........................ 7

What are the results of an inspection? ............................ 12

How does the appeals process work? ............................. 15

OSHA Assistance, Services, and Products ...................... 18

OSHA Regional and Area Offices ................................... 24

OSHA-Approved Safety and Health Plans ...................... 28

OSHA Onsite Consultation Offices ................................. 29
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1

Background

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

(the Act), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA) is authorized to conduct workplace inspections and

investigations to determine whether employers are complying

with standards issued by the agency for safe and healthful

workplaces. OSHA also enforces Section 5(a)(1) of the Act,

known as the “General Duty Clause,” which requires that

every working man and woman must be provided with a safe

and healthful workplace.

Workplace inspections and investigations are conducted by

OSHA compliance safety and health officers who are safety

and health professionals trained in the disciplines of safety

and industrial hygiene.

States administering their own occupational safety and

health program through plans approved under section 18(b)

of the Act must adopt standards and enforce requirements

which are at least as effective as federal requirements.

There are currently 26 states and territories with

OSHA-approved safety and health plans: 23 covering the

private and public (state and local government) sectors

and 3 covering the public sector only. Plan states must

adopt standards comparable to the federal standards within

6 months of a federal standard’s issue. Although most

states adopt standards identical to the federal standards

and have similar inspection procedures—including citations

and penalties and employer and employee rights and

responsibilities—you should contact the state plan agency

directly to determine if there are any different or additional

state occupational safety and health requirements.
2

Inspections are always conducted without advance notice.

There are, however, special circumstances under which

OSHA may give notice to the employer, but such a notice will

normally be less than 24 hours. These circumstances include

the following:

• Imminent danger situations that require correction as

soon as possible;

• Accident investigations where the employer has notified

the agency of a fatality or catastrophe;

• Inspections that must take place after regular business

hours or that require special preparation;

• Cases where notice is required to ensure that the

employer and employee representative or other

personnel will be present;

• Cases where an inspection must be delayed for more

than 5 working days when there is good cause; and

• Situations in which the OSHA Area Director determines

that advance notice would produce a more thorough or

effective inspection.

Employers who receive advance notice of an inspection

must inform their employees’ representative or arrange for

OSHA to do so. If an employer refuses to admit an OSHA

compliance officer or if an employer attempts to interfere

with the inspection, the Act permits appropriate legal action,

such as obtaining a warrant to inspect.
3

What are OSHAíS inspection priorities?

Not all 111 million workplaces covered by the Act can be

inspected immediately. The worst situations need attention

first. OSHA, therefore, has established a system of

inspection priorities.

Imminent danger

Imminent danger situations receive top priority. An

imminent danger is any condition where there is reasonable

certainty that a danger exists that can be expected to cause

death or serious physical harm immediately or before the

danger can be eliminated through normal enforcement

procedures.

If a compliance officer finds an imminent danger situation,

he or she will ask the employer to voluntarily abate the

hazard and remove endangered employees from exposure.

Should the employer fail to do this, OSHA, through the

regional solicitor, may apply to the Federal District Court

for an injunction prohibiting further work as long as unsafe

conditions exist.

Catastrophes and fatal accidents

Second priority goes to the investigation of fatalities

and accidents resulting in a death or hospitalization of

three or more employees. The employer must report such

catastrophes to OSHA within 8 hours. OSHA investigates

to determine the cause of these accidents and whether

existing OSHA standards were violated.
4

Complaints and referrals

Third priority goes to formal employee complaints of

unsafe or unhealthful working conditions and to referrals

from any source about a workplace hazard.

The Act gives each employee the right to request an

OSHA inspection when the employee believes he or she

is in imminent danger from a hazard or when he or she

thinks that there is a violation of an OSHA standard that

threatens physical harm. OSHA will maintain confidentiality

if requested, inform the employee of any action it takes

regarding complaints, and, if requested, hold an informal

review of any decision not to inspect.

Programmed inspections

Next in priority are programmed inspections aimed at

specific high-hazard industries, workplaces, occupations, or

health substances, or other industries identified in OSHA’s

current inspection procedures. OSHA selects industries for

inspection on the basis of factors such as the injury incidence

rates, previous citation history, employee exposure to toxic

substances, or random selection. OSHA also may develop

special emphasis programs that are local, regional, or

national in scope, depending on the distribution of the

workplaces involved. OSHA normally will conduct

comprehensive safety inspections in manufacturing in those

establishments with lost-workday injury rates at or above

the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) national rate for

manufacturing currently in use by OSHA. States with their

own occupational safety and health programs may use

somewhat different systems to identify industries for

inspection.
5

Followup inspections

A followup inspection determines if the employer has

corrected previously cited violations. If an employer has

failed to abate a violation, the compliance officer informs

the employer that he or she is subject to “Failure to Abate”

alleged violations. This involves proposed additional daily

penalties until the employer corrects the violation.
6

How does a compliance officer

prepare for the inspection?

A compliance officer represents the agency and is

expected to demonstrate his or her knowledge and expertise

in the safety and health field in a courteous and professional

manner. Before the inspection, the compliance officer will

become familiar with as many relevant facts as possible

about the workplace, such as its inspection history, the nature

of the business, and the particular standards that might

apply. This preparation provides the compliance officer

with a knowledge of the potential hazards and industrial

processes that he or she may encounter and aids in selecting

appropriate personal protective equipment for use against

these hazards during the inspection.
7

What does the inspection process involve?

Inspectorís credentials

When the OSHA compliance officer arrives at the

establishment, he or she displays official credentials and asks

to meet an appropriate employer representative. Employers

should always ask to see the compliance officer’s credentials.

Employers may verify the OSHA federal or state

compliance officer credentials by calling the nearest federal

or state OSHA office. Compliance officers may not collect a

penalty at the time of the inspection or promote the sale of a

product or service at any time; anyone who attempts to do so

is impersonating a government inspector and the employer

should contact the FBI or local law enforcement officials

immediately.

Opening conference

In the opening conference, the compliance officer explains

how the establishment was selected and what the likely

scope of the inspection will be. The compliance officer also

will ascertain whether an OSHA-funded consultation visit is

in progress or whether the facility is pursuing or has received

an inspection exemption through the consultation program;

if so, the inspection may be limited or terminated.

The compliance officer explains the purpose of the visit,

the scope of the inspection, and the standards that apply.

The compliance officer gives the employer information on

how to get a copy of applicable safety and health standards

as well as a copy of any employee complaint that may be

involved (with the employee’s name deleted, if the employee

requests anonymity).

The compliance officer asks the employer to select an

employer representative to accompany the compliance

officer during the inspection.
8

The compliance officer also gives an authorized

employee representative the opportunity to attend the

opening conference and accompany the compliance

officer during the inspection. If a recognized bargaining

agent represents the employees, the agent ordinarily will

designate the employee representative to accompany

the compliance officer. Similarly, if there is a plant safety

committee, the employee members of that committee will

designate the employee representative (in the absence of

a recognized bargaining agent). Where neither employee

group exists, the employees themselves may select an

employee representative, or the compliance officer may

determine if any employee suitably represents the interest

of other employees.

The Act does not require an employee representative for

each inspection. Where there is no authorized employee

representative, however, the compliance officer must consult

with a reasonable number of employees concerning safety

and health matters in the workplace.

Walkthrough

After the opening conference, the compliance officer

and accompanying representatives proceed through the

establishment to inspect work areas for safety and

health hazards.

The compliance officer determines the route and

duration of the inspection. While talking with employees,

the compliance officer makes every effort to minimize any

work interruptions. The compliance officer observes safety

and health conditions and practices; consults with employees

privately, if necessary; takes photos, videotapes, and

instrument readings; examines records; collects air samples;

measures noise levels; surveys existing engineering controls;

and monitors employee exposure to toxic fumes, gases,

and dusts.
9

An inspection tour may cover part or all of an establishment,

even if the inspection resulted from a specific complaint,

fatality, or catastrophe. If the compliance officer finds a

violation in open view, he or she may ask permission to

expand the inspection.

The compliance officer keeps all trade secrets observed

confidential.

The compliance officer consults employees during the

inspection tour. He or she may stop and question workers,

in private, about safety and health conditions and practices

in their workplaces. Each employee is protected under the

Act from discrimination by the employer for exercising his or

her safety and health rights.

OSHA places special importance on posting and

recordkeeping requirements. The compliance officer will

inspect records of deaths, injuries, and illnesses that the

employer is required to keep. He or she will check to

see that a copy of the totals from the last page of OSHA

Form Number 300 are posted as required and that the

OSHA workplace poster (OSHA 3165), which explains

employees’ safety and health rights, is prominently

displayed. Where records of employee exposure to toxic

substances and harmful physical agents are required, the

compliance officer will examine them for compliance with

the recordkeeping requirements.

The compliance officer also requests a copy of the

employer’s Hazard Communication Program. Under

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, employers must

establish a written, comprehensive communication program

that includes provisions for container labeling, material

safety data sheets, and an employee training program.

The program must contain a list of the hazardous chemicals

in each work area and the means the employer will use to

inform employees of the hazards associated with these

chemicals.
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During the course of the inspection, the compliance officer

will point out to the employer any unsafe or unhealthful

working conditions observed. At the same time, the

compliance officer will discuss possible corrective action

if the employer so desires.

Some apparent violations detected by the compliance

officer can be corrected immediately. When the employer

corrects them on the spot, the compliance officer records

such corrections to help in judging the employer’s good faith

in compliance. Although corrected, the apparent violations

will serve as the basis for a citation and, if appropriate,

a notice of proposed penalty. OSHA may reduce the

penalties for some types of violations if they are

corrected immediately.

Closing conference

At the conclusion of the inspection, the compliance officer

conducts a closing conference with the employer, employees,

and/or the employees’ representative.

The compliance officer gives the employer and all

other parties involved a copy of Employer Rights and

Responsibilities Following an OSHA Inspection (OSHA

3000) for their review and discussion.

The compliance officer discusses with the employer

all unsafe or unhealthful conditions observed during the

inspection and indicates all apparent violations for which he

or she may issue or recommend a citation and a proposed

penalty. The compliance officer will not indicate any

specific proposed penalties but will inform the employer

of appeal rights.
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During the closing conference, the employer may wish to

produce records to show compliance efforts and provide

information that can help OSHA determine how much time

may be needed to abate an alleged violation.

When appropriate, the compliance officer may hold more

than one closing conference. This is usually necessary when

the inspection includes an evaluation of health hazards,

after a review of additional laboratory reports, or after the

compliance officer obtains additional factual evidence while

concluding an accident investigation.

The compliance officer explains that OSHA area offices

are full-service resource centers that inform the public of

OSHA activities and programs. This includes information on

new or revised standards, the status of proposed standards,

comment periods, or public hearings. Additionally, area

offices provide technical experts and materials and refer

callers to other agencies and professional organizations as

appropriate. The area offices promote effective safety and

health programs through Voluntary Protection Programs

(VPP) and provide information about study courses offered

at the OSHA Training Institute or its satellite locations

nationwide.

If an employee representative does not participate in

either the opening or the closing conference held with the

employer, the compliance officer holds a separate discussion

with the employee representative, if requested, to discuss

matters of direct interest to employees.
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What are the results of an inspection?

After the compliance officer reports findings, the Area

Director determines whether he or she will issue citations

and/or propose penalties.

Citations

Citations inform the employer and employees of the

regulations and standards alleged to have been violated and

of the proposed length of time set to correct alleged hazards.

The employer will receive citations and notices of proposed

penalties by certified mail. The employer must post a copy

of each citation at or near the place a violation occurred for

3 days or until the violation is abated, whichever is longer.

Penalties

These are the types of violations that may be cited and

the penalties that may be proposed:1

• Other-Than-Serious Violation—A violation that

has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but

probably would not cause death or serious physical

harm. OSHA may assess a penalty from $0 to $1,000

for each violation. The agency may adjust a penalty for

an other-than-serious violation downward by as much

as 95 percent, depending on the employer’s good

faith (demonstrated efforts to comply with the Act),

history of previous violations, and size of business.2

1 For more detailed information, see U.S. Department of Labor

Program Highlights, Fact Sheet No. OSHA 91-36, “New OSHA

Civil Penalties Policy.” It is available online at www.osha.gov.

2 For a more detailed description of adjustment factors, see U.S.

Department of Labor Program Highlights, Fact Sheet No. OSHA

91-36 and OSHA’s voluntary Safety and Health Program

Management Guidelines. (Federal Register, Vol. 54, No. 16,

January 26, 1989, pp. 3904-3916.) Both are available at

www.osha.gov.
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• Serious Violation—A violation where there is a

substantial probability that death or serious physical

harm could result. OSHA assesses the penalty for a

serious violation from $1,500 to $7,000 depending

on the gravity of the violation. OSHA may adjust a

penalty for a serious violation downward based on the

employer’s good faith, history of previous violations,

and size of business.

• Willful Violation—A violation that the employer

intentionally and knowingly commits. The employer is

aware that a hazardous condition exists, knows that the

condition violates a standard or other obligation of the

Act, and makes no reasonable effort to eliminate it.

OSHA may propose penalties of up to $70,000 for each

willful violation. The minimum willful penalty is $5,000.

An employer who is convicted in a criminal proceeding

of a willful violation of a standard that has resulted in

the death of an employee may be fined up to $250,000

(or $500,000 if the employer is a corporation) or

imprisoned up to 6 months, or both. A second conviction

doubles the possible term of imprisonment.3

• Repeated Violation—A violation of any standard,

regulation, rule, or order where, upon reinspection, a

substantially similar violation is found and the original

citation has become a final order. Violations can bring a

fine or up to $70,000 for each such violation within the

previous 3 years. To calculate repeated violations,

OSHA adjusts the initial penalty for the size and then

multiplies by a factor of 2, 5, or 10 depending on the

size of the business.

• Failure-to-Abate—Failure to correct a prior violation

may bring a civil penalty of up to $7,000 for each day

3 For more information, see United States Code Annotated,

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedures 3331 to 4120,

West Publishing Company, St. Paul, MN, 1991, pp. 53–54.
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that the violation continues beyond the prescribed

abatement date.

Additional violations for which OSHA may issue citations

and proposed penalties are as follows:

• Falsifying records, reports, or applications can, upon

conviction, bring a criminal fine of $10,000 or up to

6 months in jail, or both.

• Violating posting requirements may bring a civil penalty

of $7,000.

• Assaulting a compliance officer or otherwise resisting,

opposing, intimidating, or interfering with a compliance

officer in the performance of his or her duties is a

criminal offense and is subject to a fine of not more than

$5,000 and imprisonment for not more than 3 years.

Citations and penalty procedures may differ somewhat

in states with their own occupational safety and health

programs.
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How does the appeals process work?

Appeals by employees

If an employee complaint initiates an inspection, the

employee or authorized employee representative may

request an informal review of any decision not to issue a

citation.

Employees may not contest citations, amendments to

citations, proposed penalties, or lack of penalties. They

may, however, contest the time allowed for abatement of a

hazardous condition. They also may contest an employer’s

“Petition for Modification of Abatement,” which requests an

extension of the proposed abatement period. Employees

must contest the petition within 10 working days of its

posting or within 10 working days after an authorized

employee representative receives a copy.

Employees may request an informal conference with OSHA

to discuss any issues raised by an inspection, citation, notice of

proposed penalty, or employer’s notice of intention to contest.

Appeals by employers

Within 15 working days of receiving a citation, an employer

who wishes to contest must submit a written objection to

OSHA. The OSHA Area Director forwards the objection to

the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

(OSHRC), which operates independently of OSHA.

When issued a citation and notice of proposed penalty,

an employer may request an informal meeting with OSHA’s

Area Director to discuss the case. OSHA encourages

employers to have informal conferences with the Area

Director if the employer has issues arising from the

inspection that he or she wishes to discuss or provide

additional information. The Area Director is authorized to

enter into settlement agreements that revise citations and
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penalties to avoid prolonged legal disputes and result in

speedier hazard abatement. (Alleged violations contested

before OSHRC do not need to be corrected until the contest

is ruled upon by OSHRC.)

Petition for modification of abatement

After receiving a citation, the employer must correct

the cited hazard by the abatement date unless he or she

contests the citation or abatement date. Factors beyond

the employer’s control, however, may prevent the completion

of corrections by that date. In such a situation, the employer

who has made a good-faith effort to comply may file a

petition to modify the abatement date.

The written petition must specify the steps taken to

achieve compliance, the additional time needed to comply,

the reasons additional time is needed, and interim steps

taken to safeguard employees against the cited hazard

during the intervening period. The employer must certify

that he or she posted a copy of the petition in a conspicuous

place at or near each place where a violation occurred and

that the employee representative received a copy of the

petition.

Notice of Contest

If the employer decides to contest either the citation, the

abatement period, or the proposed penalty, he or she has

15 working days from the time the citation and proposed

penalty are received to notify the OSHA Area Director in

writing. Failure to do so results in the citation and proposed

penalty becoming a final order of the OSHRC without further

appeal. An orally expressed disagreement will not suffice.

This written notification is called a “Notice of Contest.”

Although there is no specific format for the Notice of

Contest, it must clearly identify the employer’s basis for
17

filing —the citation, notice of proposed penalty, abatement

period, or notification of failure to correct violations.

The employer must give a copy of the Notice of Contest

to the employees’ authorized representative. If any affected

employees are not represented by a recognized bargaining

agent, the employer must post a copy of the notice in a

prominent location in the workplace or give it personally

to each unrepresented employee.

Review procedure

If the employer files a written Notice of Contest within

the required 15 working days, the OSHA Area Director

forwards the case to OSHRC. The commission is an

independent agency not associated with OSHA or the

Department of Labor. The commission assigns the case

to an administrative law judge.

OSHRC may schedule a hearing at a public place near

the employer’s workplace. The employer and the employee

have the right to participate in the hearing; the OSHRC

does not require them to be represented by attorneys.

Once the administrative law judge has ruled, any party

to the case may request a further review by OSHRC. Any

of the three OSHRC commissioners also may, at his or her

own motion, bring a case before the commission for review.

Employers and other parties may appeal commission rulings

to the appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals.

Appeals in states and territories

with OSHA-approved plans

States with their own occupational safety and health

programs have a state system for review and appeal of

citations, penalties, and abatement periods. The procedures

are generally similar to Federal OSHA’s, but a state review

board or equivalent authority hears cases.
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OSHA Assistance, Services, and Products

How can OSHA help me?

OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety of

programs, including assistance about safety and health

programs, state plans, workplace consultations, voluntary

protection programs, strategic partnerships, training and

education, and more.

Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines

Working in a safe and healthful environment can stimulate

innovation and creativity and result in increased performance

and higher productivity.

To assist employers and employees in developing effective

safety and health management systems, OSHA published

recommended Safety and Health Program Management

Guidelines (Federal Register 54(16): 3904-3916,

January 26, 1989). These voluntary guidelines can be

applied to all places of employment covered by OSHA.

The guidelines identify four general elements that are

critical to the development of a successful safety and health

management system. These are the following:

• Management leadership and employee involvement,

• Worksite analysis,

• Hazard prevention and control, and

• Safety and health training.

The guidelines recommend specific actions, under each of

these general elements, to achieve an effective safety and

health management system. The Federal Register notice is

available online at www.osha.gov.
19

State programs

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH

Act) encourages states to develop and operate their own job

safety and health plans. OSHA approves and monitors these

plans. There are currently 26 state plans: 23 cover both

private and public (state and local government) employment;

3 states, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, cover the

public sector only. States and territories with their own

OSHA-approved occupational safety and health plans must

adopt and enforce standards identical to, or at least as

effective as, the federal standards and provide extensive

programs of voluntary compliance and technical assistance,

including consultation services.

Consultation services

Consultation assistance is available on request to

employers who want help in establishing and maintaining

a safe and healthful workplace. Funded largely by OSHA,

the service is provided at no cost to the employer. Primarily

developed for smaller employers with more hazardous

operations, the consultation service is delivered by state

governments employing professional safety and health

consultants. Comprehensive assistance includes a hazard

survey of the worksite and appraisal of all aspects of the

employer’s existing safety and health management system.

In addition, the service offers assistance to employers in

developing and implementing an effective safety and

health management system. No penalties are proposed

or citations issued for hazards identified by the consultant.

The employer’s only obligation is to correct all identified

serious hazards within the agreed upon correction

timeframe. OSHA provides consultation assistance to

the employer with the assurance that his or her name and

firm and any information about the workplace will not be

routinely reported to OSHA enforcement staff.
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Under the consultation program, certain exemplary

employers may request participation in OSHA’s Safety

and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

Eligibility for participation in SHARP includes, but is

not limited to, receiving a full-service, comprehensive

consultation visit, correcting all identified hazards, and

developing an effective safety and health program

management system.

Employers accepted into SHARP may receive an

exemption from programmed inspections (not complaint or

accident investigation inspections) for a period of 1 year

initially, or 2 years upon renewal. For more information

concerning consultation assistance, see the list of consultation

projects listed at the end of this publication.

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)

Voluntary Protection Programs and onsite consultation

services, when coupled with an effective enforcement

program, expand worker protection to help meet the goals

of the OSH Act. The three levels of VPP—Star, Merit, and

Demonstration—are designed to recognize outstanding

achievements by companies that have developed and

implemented effective safety and health management

systems. The VPPs motivate others to achieve excellent

safety and health results in the same outstanding way as

they establish a cooperative relationship between employers,

employees, and OSHA.

For additional information on VPPs and how to apply,

contact the OSHA regional offices listed at the end of this

publication.
21

Strategic Partnership Program

OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program, the newest

member of OSHA’s cooperative programs, helps encourage,

assist, and recognize the efforts of partners to eliminate

serious workplace hazards and achieve a high level of worker

safety and health. Whereas OSHA’s Consultation Program

and VPP entail one-on-one relationships between OSHA and

individual worksites, most strategic partnerships seek to have

a broader impact by building cooperative relationships with

groups of employers and employees. These partnerships

are voluntary, cooperative relationships between OSHA,

employers, employee representatives, and others such as

trade unions, trade and professional associations,

universities, and other government agencies.

For more information on this program, contact your

nearest OSHA office, or visit OSHA’s website at

www.osha.gov.

Training and education

OSHA’s area offices offer a variety of information services,

such as compliance assistance, technical advice, publications,

audiovisual aids, and speakers for special engagements.

OSHA’s Training Institute in Des Plaines, IL, provides basic

and advanced courses in safety and health for federal and

state compliance officers, state consultants, federal agency

personnel, and private sector employers, employees, and

their representatives.

The OSHA Training Institute also has established OSHA

Training Institute Education Centers to address the increased

demand for its courses from the private sector and from

other federal agencies. These centers are nonprofit colleges,

universities, and other organizations that have been selected

after a competition for participation in the program.

OSHA awards grants through its Susan Harwood Training

Grant Program to nonprofit organizations to provide safety
22

and health training and education to employers and workers

in the workplace. The grants focus on programs that will

educate workers and employers in small business (fewer

than 250 employees), training workers and employers

about new OSHA standards or about high-risk activities or

hazards. Grants are awarded for one year and may be

renewed for an additional 12-month period depending on

whether the grantee has performed satisfactorily.

OSHA expects each organization awarded a grant to

develop a training and/or education program that addresses

a safety and health topic named by OSHA, recruit workers

and employers for the training, and conduct the training.

Grantees are also expected to follow up with people who

have been trained to find out what changes were made to

reduce the hazards in their workplaces as a result of the

training.

Each year OSHA has a national competition that is

announced in the Federal Register and on the Internet at

www.osha-slc.gov/Training/sharwood/sharwood.html.

For more information on grants, training, and education,

contact the OSHA Training Institute, Office of Training and

Education, 1555 Times Drive, Des Plaines, IL 60018; call

(847) 297-4810, or see Outreach on OSHA’s website at

www.osha.gov.

Electronic information

OSHA has a variety of materials and tools available

on its website at www.osha.gov. These include e-Tools such

as Expert Advisors and Electronic Compliance Assistance

Tools (e-CATs), Technical Links, regulations, directives,

publications, videos, and other information for employers

and employees. OSHA’s software programs and compliance

assistance tools “walk” you through challenging safety and

health issues and common problems to find the best solutions

for your workplace.
23

OSHA’s CD-ROM includes standards, interpretations,

directives, and more and can be purchased on CD-ROM

from the U.S. Government Printing Office. To order, write to

the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing

Office, Washington, DC 20402, or phone (202) 512–1800.

Specify OSHA Regulations, Documents and Technical

Information on CD-ROM (ORDT), GPO Order No. S/N

729-013-00000-5. The price is $45 per year ($56.25

international); $21 per single copy ($26.25 international).

OSHA publications

OSHA has an extensive publications program. For a

listing of free or sales items, visit OSHA’s website at

www.osha.gov or contact the OSHA Publications Office,

U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA/OSHA Publications,

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington,

DC 20013-7535. Telephone (202) 693–1888 or

fax to (202) 693–2498.

Emergencies, complaints, and further assistance

To report an emergency, file a complaint, or seek OSHA

advice, assistance, or products, call (800) 321–OSHA

or contact your nearest OSHA regional, area, state plan,

or consultation office listed at the end of this publication.

The teletypewriter (TTY) number is (877) 889–5627.

You can also file a complaint online and obtain more

information on OSHA federal and state programs by visiting

OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.
24

*These states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved

job safety and health programs (Connecticut, New Jersey and

New York plans cover public employees only). States with

approved programs must have a standard that is identical to,

or at least as effective as, the federal standard.

Region I

(CT,* ME, MA, NH, RI, VT*)

JFK Federal Building, Room E340

Boston, MA 02203

(617) 565–9860

Region II

(NJ,* NY,* PR,* VI*)

201 Varick Street, Room 670

New York, NY 10014

(212) 337–2378

Region III

(DE, DC, MD,* PA,* VA,* WV)

The Curtis Center

170 S. Independence Mall West

Suite 740 West

Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309

(215) 861–4900

Region IV

(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS,

NC,* SC,* TN*)

SNAF

61 Forsyth Street SW

Room 6T50

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562–2300

Region V

(IL, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)

230 South Dearborn Street,

Room 3244

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 353–2220

Region VI

(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)

525 Griffin Street, Room 602

Dallas, TX 75202

(214) 767–4731 or 4736 x224

Region VII

(IA,* KS, MO, NE)

City Center Square

1100 Main Street, Suite 800

Kansas City, MO 64105

(816) 426–5861

Region VIII

(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT,* WY*)

1999 Broadway, Suite 1690

PO Box 46550

Denver, CO 80202-5716

(303) 844–1600

Region IX

(American Samoa, AZ,* CA,* HI,

NV,* Northern Mariana Islands)

71 Stevenson Street, Room 420

San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 975–4310

Region X

(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)

1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715

Seattle, WA 98101-3212

(206) 553–5930

OSHA Regional and Area Offices

OSHA Regional Offices
25

OSHA Area Offices

Anchorage, AK

(907) 271–5152

Birmingham, AL

(205) 731–1534

Mobile, AL

(251) 441–6131

Little Rock, AR

(501) 324–6291(5818)

Phoenix, AZ

(602) 640–2348

Sacramento, CA

(916) 566–7471

San Diego, CA

(619) 557–5909

Denver, CO

(303) 844–5285

Greenwood Village, CO

(303) 843–4500

Bridgeport, CT

(203) 579–5581

Hartford, CT

(860) 240–3152

Wilmington, DE

(302) 573–6518

Fort Lauderdale, FL

(954) 424–0242

Jacksonville, FL

(904) 232–2895

Tampa, FL

(813) 626–1177

Savannah, GA

(912) 652–4393

Smyrna, GA

(770) 984–8700

Tucker, GA

 (770) 493–6644/6742/8419

Des Moines, IA

(515) 284–4794

Boise, ID

(208) 321–2960

Calumet City, IL

(708) 891–3800

Des Plaines, IL

(847) 803–4800

Fairview Heights, IL

(618) 632–8612

North Aurora, IL

(630) 896–8700

Peoria, IL

(309) 671–7033

Indianapolis, IN

(317) 226–7290

Wichita, KS

(316) 269–6644

Frankfort, KY

(502) 227–7024

Baton Rouge, LA

(225) 389–0474 (0431)

Braintree, MA

(617) 565–6924

Methuen, MA

(617) 565–8110

Springfield, MA

(413) 785–0123
26

Marlton, NJ

(856) 757–5181

Parsippany, NJ

(973) 263–1003

Carson City, NV

(775) 885–6963

Albany, NY

(518) 464–4338

Bayside, NY

(718) 279–9060

Bowmansville, NY

(716) 684–3891

New York, NY

(212) 337–2636

North Syracuse, NY

(315) 451–0808

Tarrytown, NY

(914) 524–7510

Westbury, NY

(516) 334–3344

Cincinnati, OH

(513) 841–4132

Cleveland, OH

(216) 522–3818

Columbus, OH

(614) 469–5582

Toledo, OH

(419) 259–7542

Oklahoma City, OK

(405) 278–9560

Portland, OR

(503) 326–2251

Linthicum, MD

(410) 865–2055/2056

August, ME

(207) 622–8417

Bangor, ME

(207) 941–8177

Portland, ME

(207) 780–3178

Lansing, MI

(517) 327–0904

Minneapolis, MN

(612) 664–5460

Kansas City, MO

(816) 483–9531

St. Louis, MO

(314) 425–4249

Jackson, MS

(601) 965–4606

Billings, MT

(406) 247–7494

Raleigh, NC

(919) 856–4770

Bismark, ND

(701) 250–4521

Omaha, NE

(402) 221–3182

Concord, NH

(603) 225–1629

Avenel, NJ

(732) 750–3270

Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

(201) 288–1700
27

Allentown, PA

(610) 776–0592

Erie, PA

(814) 833–5758

Harrisburg, PA

(717) 782–3902

Philadelphia, PA

(215) 597–4955

Pittsburgh, PA

(412) 395–4903

Wilkes–Barre, PA

(570) 826–6538

Guaynabo, PR

(787) 277–1560

Providence, RI

(401) 528–4669

Columbia, SC

(803) 765–5904

Nashville, TN

(615) 781–5423

Austin, TX

(512) 916–5783 (5788)

Corpus Christi, TX

(361) 888–3420

Dallas, TX

(214) 320–2400 (2558)

El Paso, TX

(915) 534–6251

Fort Worth, TX

(817) 428–2470 (485–7647)

Houston, TX

(281) 591–2438 (2787)

Houston, TX

(281) 286–0583/0584 (5922)

Lubbock, TX

(806) 472–7681 (7685)

Salt Lake City, UT

(801) 530–6901

Norfolk, VA

(757) 441–3820

Bellevue, WA

(206) 553–7520

Appleton, WI

(920) 734–4521

Eau Claire, WI

(715) 832–9019

Madison, WI

(608) 264–5388

Milwaukee, WI

(414) 297–3315

Charleston, WV

(304) 347–5937
28

Juneau, AK

(907) 465–2700

Phoenix, AZ

(602) 542–5795

San Francisco, CA

(415) 703–5050

Wethersfield, CT

(860) 263–6505

Honolulu, HI

(808) 586–8844

Des Moines, IA

(515) 281–3447

Indianapolis, ID

(317) 232–2378

Indianapolis, IN

(317) 232–3325

Frankfort, KY

(502) 564–3070

Baltimore, MD

(410) 767–2215

Lansing, MI

(517) 322–1814

St. Paul, MN

(651) 284–5010

Raleigh, NC

(919) 807–2900

Trenton, NJ

(609) 292–2975

Santa Fe, NM

(505) 827–2850

Carson City, NV

(775) 684–7260

Salem, OR

(503) 378–3272

Hato Rey, PR

(787) 754–2119

Columbia, SC

(803) 896–4300

Nashville, TN

(615) 741–2582

Salt Lake City, UT

(801) 530–6901

Richmond, VA

(804) 786–2377

Christiansted, St. Croix, VI

(340) 773–1990

Montpelier VT

(802) 828–2288

Olympia, WA

(360) 902–4200

(360) 902–5430

Cheyenne, WY

(307) 777–7786

OSHA-Approved Safety and Health Plans
29

Alabama

(205) 348–3033

(205) 348–3049 FAX

Alaska

(907) 269–4957

(907) 269–4950 FAX

Arizona

(602) 542–1695

(602) 542–1614 FAX

Arkansas

(501) 682–4522

(501) 682–4532 FAX

California

(415) 703–5270

(415) 703–4596 FAX

Colorado

(970) 491–6151

(970) 491–7778 FAX

Connecticut

(860) 566–4550

(860) 566–6916 FAX

Delaware

(302) 761–8219

(302) 761–6601 FAX

District of Columbia

(202) 576–6339

(202) 576–7579 FAX

Florida

(813) 974–9962

Georgia

(404) 894–2643

(404) 894–8275 FAX

Guam

011 (671) 475–0136

011 (671) 477–2988

FAX

Hawaii

(808) 586–9100

(808) 586–9099 FAX

Idaho

(208) 426–3283

(208) 426–4411 FAX

Illinois

(312) 814–2337

(312) 814–7238 FAX

Indiana

(317) 232–2688

(317) 232–3790 FAX

Iowa

(515) 281–7629

(515) 281–5522 FAX

Kansas

(785) 296–7476

(785) 296–1775 FAX

OSHA Onsite Consultation Offices
30

Kentucky

(502) 564–6895

(502) 564–6103 FAX

Louisiana

(225) 342–9601

(225) 342–5158 FAX

Maine

(207) 624–6460

(207) 624–6449 FAX

Maryland

(410) 880–4970

(301) 483–8332 FAX

Massachusetts

(617) 727–3982

(617) 727–4581 FAX

Michigan

(517) 322–1809

(517) 322–1374 FAX

Minnesota

(612) 297–2393

(612) 297–1953 FAX

Mississippi

(601) 987–3981

(601) 987–3890 FAX

Missouri

(573) 751–3403

(573) 751–3721 FAX

Montana

(406) 444–6418

(406) 444–4140 FAX

Nebraska

(402) 471–4717

(402) 471–5039 FAX

Nevada

(702) 486–9140

(702) 990–0362 FAX

New Hampshire

(603) 271–2024

(603) 271–2667 FAX

New Jersey

(609) 292–3923

(609) 292–4409 FAX

New Mexico

(505) 827–4230

(505) 827–4422 FAX

New York

(518) 457–2238

(518) 457–3454 FAX

North Carolina

(919) 807–2905

(919) 807–2902 FAX

North Dakota

(701) 328–5188

(701) 328–5200 FAX

Ohio

(800) 282–1425 or

(614) 644–2631

(614) 644–3133 FAX

Oklahoma

(405) 528–1500

(405) 528–5751 FAX
31

Oregon

(503) 378–3272

(503) 378–5729 FAX

Pennsylvania

(724) 357–2396

(724) 357–2385 FAX

Puerto Rico

(787) 754–2171

(787) 767–6051 FAX

Rhode Island

(401) 222–2438

(401) 222–2456 FAX

South Carolina

(803) 734–9614

(803) 734–9741 FAX

South Dakota

(605) 688–4101

(605) 688–6290 FAX

Tennessee

(615) 741–7036

(615) 532–2997 FAX

Texas

(512) 804–4640

(512) 804–4641 FAX

OSHCON Request Line:

(800) 687–7080

Utah

(801) 530–6901

(801) 530–6992 FAX

Vermont

(802) 828–2765

(802) 828–2195 FAX

Virginia

(804) 786–6359

(804) 786–8418 FAX

Virgin Islands

(340) 772–1315

(340) 772–4323 FAX

Washington

(360) 902–5638

(360) 902–5459 FAX

West Virginia

(304) 558–7890

(304) 558–9711 FAX

Wisconsin (Health)

(608) 266–8579

(608) 266–9383 FAX

Wisconsin (Safety)

(262) 523–3040

(800) 947–0553

(262) 523–3046 FAX

Wyoming

(307) 777–7786

(307) 777–3646 FAX