Which states have their own OSHA program?

Does your business need to comply with Federal OSHA or your state's program? 

This is where the rubber meets the road with compliance and the first thing to do is make sure you're on the right road. 

Luckily, this step is pretty straight-forward. 

State or Federal Requirements? 

It pretty much takes an act of congress to change OSHA rulings, so as you might imagine, the industry evolves pretty slowly. In fact, most rules haven't changed much, if at all, since OSHA's inception in the early 70's.

Some states, decided that to keep up with the changing faces of industry, they would need to create their own safety programs. In order for these programs to be accepted, they had to be at least as protective as Federal OSHA. Some go above and beyond while others are just marginally different. 

If your business is based in one of these states, or you will be conducting business in one of them, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the requirements. 

The states with their own safety programs are: 

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Mexico
• Nevada 
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Puerto Rico
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wyoming 

Not listed? Then your state still uses the Federal OSHA program. 

Lastly, there are a few states that have their own OSHA program that only applies to government employees and facilities. This will only apply to a few of you such as contractors doing work in government buildings. Check the list of states below. 

• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Maine
• New Jersey
• New York 

Interested in learning more? Download our free e-book, 08 Steps to Confidently Navigate OSHA Safety Requirements.