www.osha.gov

Best Practices Guide:

Fundamentals of a

Workplace First-Aid

Program

OSHA 3317-06N 2006
This best practices guide is not a standard or

regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations,

nor does it change any existing OSHA standard or

regulation. The guide is advisory in nature, informational in content, and is intended to assist

employers in providing a safe and healthful

workplace.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

(OSH Act) requires employers to comply with

hazard-specific safety and health standards and

regulations as issued and enforced by either 

the Federal Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA), or an OSHA-approved

State Plan. In addition, employers must provide

their employees with a workplace free from

recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious

physical harm under Section 5(a)(1), the General

Duty Clause of the Act. Employers can be cited for

violating the General Duty Clause if there is a

recognized hazard and they do not take steps to

prevent or abate the hazard. However, failure to

implement this guide is not, in itself, a violation of

the General Duty Clause. Citations can only be

based on standards, regulations, and the General

Duty Clause. 
U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA 3317-06N

2006

Best Practices Guide:

Fundamentals of a

Workplace First-Aid

Program
2

Contents

Introduction and Purpose . . . 3

The Risks: Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities . . . 4

Assess the Risks and Design a First-Aid Program 

Specific for the Worksite . . . 5

OSHA Requirements . . . 8

First-Aid Supplies . . . 9

Automated External Defibrillators . . . 10

First-Aid Courses . . . 11

Elements of a First-Aid Training Program . . . 11

Trainee Assessment . . . 15

Skills Update . . . 15

Program Update . . . 15

Summary . . . 16

Additional Resources on First Aid, CPR 

and AEDs . . . 16

References . . . 17

OSHA Assistance . . . 18

OSHA Regional Offices . . . 23
Introduction and Purpose

First aid is emergency care provided for injury or sudden illness

before emergency medical treatment is available. The first-aid

provider in the workplace is someone who is trained in the delivery

of initial medical emergency procedures, using a limited amount of

equipment to perform a primary assessment and intervention

while awaiting arrival of emergency medical service (EMS)

personnel.

A workplace first-aid program is part of a comprehensive safety

and health management system that includes the following four

essential elements1

:

■ Management Leadership and Employee Involvement

■ Worksite Analysis

■ Hazard Prevention and Control

■ Safety and Health Training

The purpose of this guide is to present a summary of the basic

elements for a first-aid program at the workplace. Those elements

include:

■ Identifying and assessing the workplace risks that have potential

to cause worker injury or illness. 

■ Designing and implementing a workplace first-aid program that:

• Aims to minimize the outcome of accidents or exposures

• Complies with OSHA requirements relating to first aid

• Includes sufficient quantities of appropriate and readily

accessible first-aid supplies and first-aid equipment, such as

bandages and automated external defibrillators.

• Assigns and trains first-aid providers who:

■ receive first-aid training suitable to the specific workplace

■ receive periodic refresher courses on first-aid skills and

knowledge.

3

1 CSP 03-01-002 - TED 8.4 - Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP): Policies and

Procedures Manual Notice. 54 Federal Register 3904-3916. Available at

www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id

=2976
■ Instructing all workers about the first-aid program, including

what workers should do if a coworker is injured or ill. Putting

the policies and program in writing is recommended to

implement this and other program elements. 

■ Providing for scheduled evaluation and changing of the first-aid

program to keep the program current and applicable to emerging

risks in the workplace, including regular assessment of the

adequacy of the first-aid training course.

This guide also includes an outline of the essential elements of

safe and effective first-aid training for the workplace as guidance to

institutions teaching first-aid courses and to the consumers of

these courses. 

The Risks: Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities 

There were 5,703 work-related fatalities in private industry in 2004.

In that same year there were 4.3 million total workplace injuries

and illnesses, of which 1.3 million resulted in days away from

work.

Occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities in 2004 cost the

United States’ economy $142.2 billion, according to National

Safety Council estimates. The average cost per occupational

fatality in 2004 exceeded one million dollars. To cover the costs to

employers from workplace injuries, it has been calculated that

each and every employee in this country would have had to

generate $1,010 in revenue in 2004.2

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may occur at work. According to

recent statistics from the American Heart Association, there are

250,000 out-of-hospital SCAs annually. The actual number of SCAs

that happen at work are unknown. If an employee collapses

without warning and is not attended to promptly and effectively,

the employee may die. Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by

abnormal, uncoordinated beating of the heart or loss of the

heartbeat altogether, usually as a result of a heart attack.

4

2 National Safety Council. (2006). Injury Facts, 2004 - 2006 Edition. Itasca, IL, p. 51.
Workplace events such as electrocution or exposure to low oxygen

environments can lead to SCA. Overexertion at work can also

trigger SCA in those with underlying heart disease. 

The outcome of occupational illnesses and injuries depends on

the severity of the injury, available first-aid care and medical

treatment. Prompt, properly administered first aid may mean the

difference between rapid or prolonged recovery, temporary or

permanent disability, and even life or death.

Assess the Risks and Design a First-Aid

Program Specific for the Worksite 

Obtaining and evaluating information about the injuries, illnesses

and fatalities at a worksite are essential first steps in planning a

first-aid program. Employers can use the OSHA 300 log, OSHA

301 forms, their Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier reports

or other records to help identify the first-aid needs for their

businesses. For risk assessment purposes, national data for

injuries, illnesses and fatalities may be obtained from the Bureau

of Labor Statistics (BLS) website at www.bls.gov/iif. The annual

data, beginning in 2003, are grouped by the North American

Industrial Classification System (NAICS) that assigns a numeric

code for each type of work establishment. Prior to 2003, the

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was used to

categorize the data instead of NAICS. 

The graphs that follow provide examples of fatality, injury and

illness analyses that can be developed using BLS data.

5
Figure 1 shows the distribution by NAICS sector of workplace

fatalities that occurred in private industry in 2004, the most

recent year for which data was available.

The categories of events or exposures responsible for workplace

fatalities in 2004 are shown in Figure 2. More detailed data are

available from the BLS website.

6

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Information

Financial Activities

Education and

 health services

Other services

Leisure and hospitality

Professional and

 business services

Manufacturing

Natural resources

 and mining

Construction

Trade, transportation

 and utilities

Percent Fatalities of 5,703 total fatalities

Note: The total includes fatalities that occurred in the public sector;

therefore, the percentages above do not add up to 100.

Figure 1. Percent Fatalities in Private Industry by NAICS Sector, 2004

NAICS Sector

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Fires and explosions

Exposure to

harmful substances

Falls

Assaults and

 violent acts

Contact with objects

 and equipment

Transportation

 incidents

Percent of 5,703 total fatalities

Figure 2. Occupational Fatalities by Event or Exposure, 2004

Event or Exposure
Figure 3 reflects total injuries and illnesses by NAICS sector based

on 2004 BLS data. Data that are more specific to businesses within

these sectors may be obtained from the BLS website.

The graph in Figure 4 shows the number of injuries and illnesses

in private industry by the type of event or exposure responsible for

them that resulted in days away from work in 2004. More detailed

data may be found on the BLS website.

7

0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,400,000

Information

Natural resources

and mining

Other services

Financial activities

Professional and

 business surfaces

Leisure and

hospitality

Construction

Educational and

health services

Manufacturing

Trade, transportation

and utilities

Number of Recordable Injuries and Illnesses

Figure 3. Number of Recordable Injuries and Illnesses by NAICS Sector, 2004 NAICS Sector

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 

Fires and explosions

Assualts and

violent acts

Exposure to harmful

 substances or 

environments

Transportation

accidents

Falls

Contact with objects

and equipment

Bodily reaction

and exertion

Injuries and Illnesses with Days Away from Work per 10,000 Employees

Figure 4. Private Industry Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away from 

Work per 10,000 Employees by Event or Exposure, 2004

Event or Exposure
Employers should make an effort to obtain estimates of EMS

response times for all permanent and temporary locations and for

all times of the day and night at which they have workers on duty,

and they should use that information when planning their first-aid

program. When developing a workplace first-aid program, consultation with the local fire and rescue service or emergency medical professionals may be helpful for response time information and other

program issues. Because it can be a workplace event, SCA should

be considered by employers when planning a first-aid program. 

It is advisable to put the First-Aid Program policies and

procedures in writing. Policies and procedures should be communicated to all employees, including those workers who may not

read or speak English. Language barriers should be addressed

both in instructing employees on first-aid policies and procedures

and when designating individuals who will receive first-aid training

and become the on-site first-aid providers.

OSHA Requirements 

Sudden injuries or illnesses, some of which may be life-threatening, occur at work. The OSHA First Aid standard (29 CFR 1910.151)

requires trained first-aid providers at all workplaces of any size if

there is no “infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the

workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees.”

In addition to first-aid requirements of 29 CFR 1910.151, several

OSHA standards also require training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because sudden cardiac arrest from asphyxiation,

electrocution, or exertion may occur. CPR may keep the victim

alive until EMS arrives to provide the next level of medical care.

However, survival from this kind of care is low, only 5-7%,

according to the American Heart Association. The OSHA standards

requiring CPR training are:

1910.146 Permit-required Confined Spaces

1910.266 Appendix B: Logging Operations – First-Aid and CPR 

Training

1910.269 Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and 

Distribution

8
1910.410 Qualifications of Dive Team

1926.950 Construction Subpart V, Power Transmission and 

Distribution

If an employee is expected to render first aid as part of his or

her job duties, the employee is covered by the requirements of the

Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR

1910.1030). This standard includes specific training requirements. 

A few of the medical emergency procedures mentioned in this

guide as first aid may be considered medical treatment for OSHA

recordkeeping purposes. The OSHA Recording and Reporting

Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation (29 CFR 1904)

provides specific definitions of first aid and medical treatment. If a

medical emergency procedure which is considered by 29 CFR 1904

to be medical treatment is performed on an employee with an

occupational injury or illness, then the injury or illness will be

regarded as recordable on the OSHA 300 Log.

First-Aid Supplies 

It is advisable for the employer to give a specific person the responsibility for choosing the types and amounts of first-aid supplies and

for maintaining these supplies. The supplies must be adequate,

should reflect the kinds of injuries that occur, and must be stored in

an area where they are readily available for emergency access. An

automated external defibrillator (AED) should be considered when

selecting first-aid supplies and equipment.

A specific example of the minimal contents of a workplace firstaid kit is described in American National Standards Institute ANSI

Z308.1 - 2003, Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits.

The kits described are suitable for small businesses. For large

operations, employers should determine how many first-aid kits

are needed, and if it is appropriate to augment the kits with

additional first-aid equipment and supplies. 

Employers who have unique or changing first-aid needs should

consider upgrading their first-aid kits. The employer can use the

OSHA 300 log, OSHA 301 reports or other records to identify the

first-aid supply needs of their worksite. Consultation with the local

9
fire and rescue service or emergency medical professionals may be

beneficial. By assessing the specific needs of their workplaces,

employers can ensure the availability of adequate first-aid supplies.

Employers should periodically reassess the demand for these

supplies and adjust their inventories.

Automated External Defibrillators 

With recent advances in technology, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are now widely available, safe, effective, portable, and

easy to use. They provide the critical and necessary treatment for

sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) caused by ventricular fibrillation, the

uncoordinated beating of the heart leading to collapse and death.

Using AEDs as soon as possible after sudden cardiac arrest, within

3-4 minutes, can lead to a 60% survival rate.3 CPR is of value

because it supports the circulation and ventilation of the victim

until an electric shock delivered by an AED can restore the fibrillating heart to normal. 

All worksites are potential candidates for AED programs

because of the possibility of SCA and the need for timely defibrillation. Each workplace should assess its own requirements for an

AED program as part of its first-aid response.

A number of issues should be considered in setting up a

worksite AED program: physician oversight; compliance with local,

state and federal regulations; coordination with local EMS; a

quality assurance program; and a periodic review, among others.

The OSHA website at www.osha.gov or the websites of the

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at

www.acoem.org, the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org, the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org,

Federal Occupational Health at www.foh.dhhs.gov, and the

National Center for Early Defibrillation at www.early-defib.org can

provide additional information about AED program development.

10

3 American Heart Association in collaboration with International Liaison Committee

on Resuscitation. Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and

Emergency Cardiovascular Care: International Consensus on Science, Part 4: The

Automated External Defibrillator. Circulation. 2000; Vol. 102, Supplement: I 61.

Figure 1.
First-Aid Courses 

Training for first aid is offered by the American Heart Association,

the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council, and other

nationally recognized and private educational organizations. OSHA

does not teach first-aid courses or certify first-aid training courses

for instructors or trainees. 

First-aid courses should be individualized to the needs of the

workplace. Some of the noted program elements may be optional

for a particular plant or facility. On the other hand, unique

conditions at a specific worksite may necessitate the addition of

customized elements to a first-aid training program.

Elements of a First-Aid Training Program 

There are a number of elements to include when planning a firstaid training program for a particular workplace. These recommendations are based on the best practices and evidence available at

the time this guide was written. Statistical information is available

from BLS to help assess the risks for specific types of work.

Program elements to be considered are:

1.Teaching Methods

Training programs should incorporate the following principles: 

■ Basing the curriculum on a consensus of scientific evidence

where available;

■ Having trainees develop “hands-on” skills through the use of

mannequins and partner practice; 

■ Having appropriate first-aid supplies and equipment available;

■ Exposing trainees to acute injury and illness settings as well as

to the appropriate response through the use of visual aids;

■ Including a course information resource for reference both

during and after training;

■ Allowing enough time for emphasis on commonly occurring

situations;

■ Emphasizing skills training and confidence-building over

classroom lectures;

■ Emphasizing quick response to first-aid situations.

11
2. Preparing to Respond to a Health Emergency

The training program should include instruction or discussion in

the following:

■ Prevention as a strategy in reducing fatalities, illnesses and

injuries;

■ Interacting with the local EMS system;

■ Maintaining a current list of emergency telephone numbers

(police, fire, ambulance, poison control) accessible by all

employees; 

■ Understanding the legal aspects of providing first-aid care,

including Good Samaritan legislation, consent, abandonment,

negligence, assault and battery, State laws and regulations;

■ Understanding the effects of stress, fear of infection, panic; how

they interfere with performance; and what to do to overcome

these barriers to action;

■ Learning the importance of universal precautions and body

substance isolation to provide protection from bloodborne

pathogens and other potentially infectious materials. Learning

about personal protective equipment -- gloves, eye protection,

masks, and respiratory barrier devices. Appropriate management

and disposal of blood-contaminated sharps and surfaces; and

awareness of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard. 

3. Assessing the Scene and the Victim(s)

The training program should include instruction in the following:

■ Assessing the scene for safety, number of injured, and nature of

the event;

■ Assessing the toxic potential of the environment and the need

for respiratory protection;

■ Establishing the presence of a confined space and the need for

respiratory protection and specialized training to perform a rescue;

■ Prioritizing care when there are several injured;

■ Assessing each victim for responsiveness, airway patency

(blockage), breathing, circulation, and medical alert tags;

■ Taking a victim’s history at the scene, including determining the

mechanism of injury;

■ Performing a logical head-to-toe check for injuries; 

12
■ Stressing the need to continuously monitor the victim;

■ Emphasizing early activation of EMS;

■ Indications for and methods of safely moving and rescuing

victims;

■ Repositioning ill/injured victims to prevent further injury.

4. Responding to Life-Threatening Emergencies 

The training program should be designed or adapted for the specific

worksite and may include first-aid instruction in the following:

■ Establishing responsiveness;

■ Establishing and maintaining an open and clear airway;

■ Performing rescue breathing;

■ Treating airway obstruction in a conscious victim;

■ Performing CPR;

■ Using an AED;

■ Recognizing the signs and symptoms of shock and providing

first aid for shock due to illness or injury;

■ Assessing and treating a victim who has an unexplained change

in level of consciousness or sudden illness;

■ Controlling bleeding with direct pressure;

■ Poisoning

• Ingested poisons: alkali, acid, and systemic poisons. Role of

the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222);

• Inhaled poisons: carbon monoxide; hydrogen sulfide; smoke;

and other chemical fumes, vapors, and gases. Assessing the

toxic potential of the environment and the need for respirators; 

• Knowledge of the chemicals at the worksite and of first aid and

treatment for inhalation or ingestion;

• Effects of alcohol and illicit drugs so that the first-aid provider

can recognize the physiologic and behavioral effects of these

substances.

■ Recognizing asphyxiation and the danger of entering a confined

space without appropriate respiratory protection. Additional

training is required if first-aid personnel will assist in the rescue

from the confined space. 

■ Responding to Medical Emergencies

• Chest pain;

13
14

• Stroke;

• Breathing problems;

• Anaphylactic reaction;

• Hypoglycemia in diabetics taking insulin;

• Seizures; 

• Pregnancy complications;

• Abdominal injury;

• Reduced level of consciousness; 

• Impaled object.

5. Responding to Non-Life-Threatening Emergencies 

The training program should be designed for the specific worksite

and include first-aid instruction for the management of the following:

■ Wounds

• Assessment and first aid for wounds including abrasions, cuts,

lacerations, punctures, avulsions, amputations and crush injuries;

• Principles of wound care, including infection precautions;

• Principles of body substance isolation, universal precautions

and use of personal protective equipment.

■ Burns

• Assessing the severity of a burn;

• Recognizing whether a burn is thermal, electrical, or chemical

and the appropriate first aid; 

• Reviewing corrosive chemicals at a specific worksite, along

with appropriate first aid.

■ Temperature Extremes

• Exposure to cold, including frostbite and hypothermia;

• Exposure to heat, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and

heat stroke.

■ Musculoskeletal Injuries

• Fractures;

• Sprains, strains, contusions and cramps;

• Head, neck, back and spinal injuries;

• Appropriate handling of amputated body parts.

■ Eye injuries

• First aid for eye injuries;
• First aid for chemical burns.

■ Mouth and Teeth Injuries

• Oral injuries; lip and tongue injuries; broken and missing teeth; 

• The importance of preventing aspiration of blood and/or teeth.

■ Bites and Stings

• Human and animal bites;

• Bites and stings from insects; instruction in first-aid treatment

of anaphylactic shock.

Trainee Assessment 

Assessment of successful completion of the first-aid training

program should include instructor observation of acquired skills

and written performance assessments.

Skills Update 

First-aid responders may have long intervals between learning and

using CPR and AED skills. Numerous studies have shown a

retention rate of 6-12 months of these critical skills. The American

Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee

encourages skills review and practice sessions at least every 6

months for CPR and AED skills. Instructor-led retraining for lifethreatening emergencies should occur at least annually. Retraining

for non-life-threatening response should occur periodically.

Program Update 

The first-aid program should be reviewed periodically to determine

if it continues to address the needs of the specific workplace.

Training, supplies, equipment and first-aid policies should be added

or modified to account for changes in workplace safety and health

hazards, worksite locations and worker schedules since the last

program review. The first-aid training program should be kept up-todate with current first-aid techniques and knowledge. Outdated

training and reference materials should be replaced or removed.

15
Summary 

Employers are required by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151 to

have a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid for

worksites that are not in near proximity to an infirmary, clinic, or

hospital. 

It is advised that the first-aid program for a particular workplace

be designed to reflect the known and anticipated risks of the

specific work environment. Consultation with local emergency

medical experts and providers of first-aid training is encouraged

when developing a first-aid program. 

The program must comply with all applicable OSHA standards

and regulations. (See section on OSHA Requirements.) OSHA

requires certain employers to have CPR-trained rescuers on site. 

Sudden cardiac arrest is a potential risk at all worksites,

regardless of the type of work. Serious consideration should be

given to establishing a workplace AED program. 

First-aid supplies must be available in adequate quantities and

be readily accessible. 

First-aid training courses should include instruction in general

and workplace hazard-specific knowledge and skills. CPR training

should incorporate AED training if an AED is available at the

worksite. First-aid training should be repeated periodically to

maintain and update knowledge and skills. 

Management commitment and worker involvement is vital in

developing, implementing and assessing a workplace first-aid

program.

Additional Resources on First Aid, CPR

and AEDs 

American Association of Occupational Health Nursing at

www.aaohn.org

National Safety Council at www.nsc.org

16
References 

American Heart Association. Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED.

Publication 70-2562. Dallas: American Heart Association. 2002.

American Heart Association in collaboration with International

Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. Guidelines 2000 for

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular

Care: International Consensus on Science, Part 3: Adult Basic Life

Support. Circulation. 2000; Vol. 102, Supplement I: I 22 - I 59.

American Red Cross. First Aid: Responding to Emergencies. Third

Edition. 2001.

ANSI Z308.1-2003. Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid

Kits. Arlington VA: International Safety Equipment Association.

2003.

ASTM F2171-02. Standard Guide for Defining the Performance of

First Aid Providers in Occupational Settings. West Conshohocken,

PA. ASTM International. 2002.

Caffrey, S.L., Willoughby, P.J., Pepe, P.E., and Becker, L.B. Public use

of automated external defibrillators. New Eng J Med 2002;

347(16):1242-47.

ECC Committee, Subcommittees and Task Forces of the American

Heart Association. 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.

Circulation. 2005 Dec. 13; Vol. 112, Issue 24 Supplement: IV 1-IV 203.

National Guidelines for First Aid Training in Occupational Settings

(Revised 2002) 2nd Ed. Available: www.ngfatos.net [June 30, 2004]

National Safety Council. Injury Facts, 2005 - 2006 Edition. Itasca, IL

(2006). 

National Safety Council, Standard First Aid, CPR and AED, McGrawHill. New York NY. (2005).

U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Injuries,

Illnesses, and Fatalities at www.bls.gov/iif 

U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health

Administration. Directive CPL 02-02-053. Guidelines for First Aid

Training Programs. 1991.

17
18

OSHA Assistance

OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety of programs,

including technical assistance about effective safety and health

programs, state plans, workplace consultations, voluntary protection programs, strategic partnerships, training and education,

and more. An overall commitment to workplace safety and health

can add value to your business, to your workplace and to your life.

Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines

Effective management of worker safety and health protection is

a decisive factor in reducing the extent and severity of work-related

injuries and illnesses and their related costs. To assist employers

and employees in developing effective safety and health programs,

OSHA published recommended Safety and Health Program

Management Guidelines (54 Federal Register 3904-3916, January

26, 1989). These voluntary guidelines apply 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

program:

Management leadership and employee involvement;

Work 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 program.

The guidelines can be viewed on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov

under the heading Federal Registers.

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. States with plans approved by OSHA under section

18(b) of the OSH Act must adopt standards and enforce require-
19

ments that are at least as effective as federal requirements. There

are currently 26 state plan states: 22 of these administer plans

covering both private and public (state and local government)

employees; the other plans, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York

and the Virgin Islands, cover public sector employees only. 

Consultation Services

Consultation assistance is available on request to employers

who want help in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful

workplace. Largely funded 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 an

appraisal of all mechanical systems, work practices and occupational safety and health hazards of the workplace and all aspects of the

employer’s present job safety and health program.

The program is separate from OSHA’s inspection efforts. No

penalties are proposed or citations issued for hazards identified by

the consultant. The service is confidential. For more information

concerning consultation assistance, see the OSHA website at

www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult.html.

Voluntary Protection Programs

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs) 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 Star Demonstration—are

designed to recognize outstanding achievement by companies that

have successfully incorporated comprehensive safety and health

programs into their total management system. The VPPs motivate

others to achieve excellent safety and health results in the same

outstanding way as they establish a cooperative relationship

among employers, employees and OSHA.

For additional information on VPPs and how to apply, visit OSHA’s

website at: www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html or contact your nearest

OSHA Area or Regional Office listed at the end of this publication.
Strategic Partnership Program

OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program, the newest 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 (e.g., labor

unions, trade and professional associations, universities and other

government agencies). For more information on this and other

cooperative programs, contact your nearest OSHA office, or visit

OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov

Alliance Programs

The Alliances Program enables organizations committed to

workplace safety and health to collaborate with OSHA to prevent

injuries and illnesses in the workplace. OSHA and the Alliance

participants work together to reach out to, educate and lead the

nation’s employers and their employees in improving and

advancing workplace safety and health.

Groups that can form an Alliance with OSHA include employers,

labor unions, trade or professional groups, educational institutions

and government agencies. In some cases, organizations may be

building on existing relationships with OSHA through other

cooperative programs.

There are few formal program requirements for Alliances and the

agreements do not include an enforcement component. However,

OSHA and the participating organizations must define, implement

and meet a set of short- and long-term goals that fall into three

categories: training and education; outreach and communication; and

promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health.

20
Training and Education

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

as compliance assistance, publications, audiovisual aids, technical

advice, and speakers for special engagements.

OSHA’s Training Institute in Arlington Heights, 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 (see OSHA’s website at: www.osha.gov/fso/ote/

training/edcenters/index.html). These centers are nonprofit

colleges, universities and other organizations that have been

selected after a competition for participation in the program.

OSHA also provides funds to nonprofit organizations, through

grants, to conduct workplace training and education in subjects

where OSHA believes there is a lack of workplace training.

Grants are awarded annually. Grant recipients are expected to

contribute 20 percent of the total grant cost.

For more information on grants, training and education, contact

the OSHA Training Institute, Office of Training and Education, on

OSHA’s website at: www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/index.html, or at 2020

South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4102,

(847) 297-4810, Fax (847) 297-4874. For further information on any

OSHA program, contact your nearest OSHA area or regional office

listed at the end of this publication.

Information Available Electronically

OSHA has a variety of materials and tools available on its

website at www.osha.gov. These include e-Tools such as Expert

Advisors, Electronic Compliance Assistance Tools (e-cats),

Technical Links; regulations, directives and publications; videos

and other information for employers and employees. OSHA’s

software programs and compliance assistance tools walk you

21
through challenging safety and health issues and common problems

to find the best solutions for your workplace.

A wide variety of OSHA materials, including standards, interpretations, directives, and more, can be purchased on CD-ROM from

the U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents,

phone toll-free (866) 512-1800.

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,

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington, DC 20210.

Telephone (202) 693-1888 or fax to (202) 693-2498.

Contacting OSHA

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

assistance or products, call (800) 321-OSHA or contact your nearest

OSHA regional or area office listed below. 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.

For further information on any OSHA program, contact your

nearest OSHA area or regional office listed at the end of this

publication. 

22
23

OSHA Regional Offices

* These 26 states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved job

safety and health programs (Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and the

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, OSHAapproved State Plans and OSHA Consultation Projects, please visit us

online at www.osha.gov or call us at 1-800-321-OSHA.

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*)

61 Forsyth Street, SW

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

(720) 264-6550

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

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and

healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s

role is to assure the safety and health of America’s

workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing

partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. 

This handbook provides a general overview of a

particular topic related to OSHA standards. It does

not alter or determine compliance responsibilities in

OSHA standards or the Occupational Safety and

Health Act of 1970. Because interpretations and enforcement policy may change over time, you should

consult current OSHA administrative interpretations

and decisions by the Occupational Safety and Health

Review Commission and the Courts for additional

guidance on OSHA compliance requirements.

This publication is in the public domain and may be

reproduced, fully or partially, without permission.

Source credit is requested but not required.

This information is available to sensory impaired

individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-

1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.
www.osha.gov