OSHA Employer Resources

Employer Responsibilities Under the OSH Act

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace. The following obligations apply to all covered employers, as described by OSHA:

1. Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with OSHA standards.
2. Examine workplace conditions to make sure they conform to applicable OSHA standards.
3. Make sure employees have and use safe tools and equipment and properly maintain this equipment.
4. Use color codes, posters, labels, or signs to warn employees of potential hazards.
5. Establish or update operating procedures and communicate them.
6. Provide safety training in a language and vocabulary workers can understand.
7. Develop and implement a written hazard communication program and train employees on hazards. Safety data sheets must be readily available.
8. Provide medical examinations and training when required by OSHA standards.
9. Post the OSHA poster informing employees of their rights.
10. Report fatalities within 8 hours; hospitalizations, amputations, and eye losses within 24 hours. Call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
11. Keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses. Employers with 10 or fewer employees and certain low-hazard industries are exempt.
12. Provide access to the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300).
13. Post OSHA Form 300A summary from February 1 through April 30 (29 CFR 1904.32).
14. Provide access to employee medical records and exposure records.
15. Provide names of authorized employee representatives to OSHA compliance officers.
16. Not discriminate against employees who exercise their rights.
17. Post OSHA citations at or near the work area until corrected or for three working days, whichever is longer.
18. Post abatement verification documents or tags.
19. Correct cited violations by the deadline and submit required abatement verification.

Not covered by the OSH Act: self-employed workers, immediate family members of farm employers, and workers whose hazards are regulated by another federal agency.

Current Penalty Amounts

OSHA adjusts penalty amounts annually for inflation. The following amounts are effective January 15, 2025, as published by OSHA:

State Plans must adopt penalties at least as effective as federal OSHA.

Free On-Site Consultation Program

OSHA offers a free and confidential on-site consultation program designed primarily for smaller businesses. Key features:

• No cost to the employer.
• Confidential. Consultation findings are not reported to OSHA enforcement.
• Separate from OSHA enforcement and does not trigger inspections.
• Services are provided by consultants from state agencies or universities.

How it works: request a visit, work with a consultant to identify hazards, and commit to correcting any serious hazards found.

According to OSHA, the consultation program is available in every state and is funded by OSHA.

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)

The Voluntary Protection Programs recognize employers and workers who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below the national average.

• Employers, workers, and OSHA work together as a cooperative team.
• To participate, employers apply to OSHA and complete an onsite review by safety and health experts.
• VPP sites are reviewed every three to five years.
• Participants are not subject to OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain VPP status.
• Employers can participate through Site-Based or Mobile Workforce pathways.

For more information, visit osha.gov/vpp.

Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)

The SHARP program recognizes businesses that demonstrate exemplary safety and health performance through the On-Site Consultation Program. Employers that meet SHARP requirements receive recognition and may be exempt from OSHA programmed inspections for the period of their SHARP participation.

Official OSHA Resources