What Is OSHA? What the Name Means, Who It Covers and How to File a Complaint
OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the part of the U.S. Department of Labor that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the OSH Act). This page quotes osha.gov, the OSH Act and the recordkeeping rule on what OSHA covers, the State Plans, workers' rights and how to file a complaint. The osha.gov pages were read as Internet Archive copies captured October 22, 2026.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Reviewed November 3, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Each source below is quoted as it read when we checked on November 3, 2026.
What OSHA stands for
The osha.gov About OSHA page (captured October 22, 2026) uses the full name in this form: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The law that created it has a short title:
“[…] may be cited as the ‘Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970’.”
“The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created OSHA, which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards. There are OSHA standards for construction, agriculture, maritime and general industry. Employers also must comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, which requires them to keep their workplaces free of serious recognized hazards.”
“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.”
The statute states the Act's purpose, in part:
“The Congress declares it to be its purpose and policy, through the exercise of its powers to regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign nations and to provide for the general welfare, to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources […]”
“OSHA's mission is to ensure America's workers have safe and healthful working conditions free from unlawful retaliation. OSHA carries out its mission by setting and enforcing standards; enforcing anti-retaliation provisions of the OSH Act and other federal whistleblower laws; providing and supporting training, outreach, education, and assistance; and working collaboratively with our state OSHA programs as well as ensuring that they are at least as effective as federal OSHA, furthering a national system of worker safety and health protections.”
Who OSHA covers and who it does not
The osha.gov pages describe coverage this way:
“The OSH Act covers most private sector employers and their workers, in addition to some public sector employers and workers in the 50 states and certain territories and jurisdictions under federal authority. Those jurisdictions include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, Johnston Island, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands as defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.”
“OSHA covers most private sector employers and workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other U.S. jurisdictions either directly through Federal OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state plan. State-run health and safety programs must be at least as effective as the Federal OSHA program.”
“Workers at state and local government agencies are not covered by Federal OSHA, but have OSH Act protections if they work in one of the states or territories that have an OSHA-approved state program.”
On federal agencies, osha.gov and the statute word the point differently. The table shows both; the two documents word federal-agency coverage differently, and this page does not reconcile them.
| Document | Wording |
|---|---|
| osha.gov, Workers page (captured October 22, 2026) | “OSHA's protection applies to all federal agencies. 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 these agencies and conducts federal workplace inspections in response to workers' complaints.” |
| 29 U.S.C. 652(5) | “The term “employer” means a person engaged in a business affecting commerce who has employees, but does not include the United States (not including the United States Postal Service) or any State or political subdivision of a State.” |
The statute also limits the Act where other agencies have authority:
“Nothing in this chapter shall apply to working conditions of employees with respect to which other Federal agencies, and State agencies acting under section 2021 of title 42, exercise statutory authority to prescribe or enforce standards or regulations affecting occupational safety or health.”
The About OSHA and Workers pages saved for this page do not mention self-employed people or farms, so this page does not state any exclusion beyond the ones quoted above.
State Plans
osha.gov describes State Plans this way (page captured October 22, 2026):
“State Plans are OSHA-approved workplace safety and health programs operated by individual states or U.S. territories. […] State Plans are monitored by OSHA and must be at least as effective as OSHA in protecting workers and in preventing work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.”
As captured on October 22, 2026, the osha.gov State Plans page listed 22 State Plans that cover both private sector and state and local government workers and seven that cover only state and local government workers. The lists below come from the page's state-by-state text.
Cover both private sector and state and local government workers (22)
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wyoming
Cover only state and local government workers (7)
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- U.S. Virgin Islands
For a state with a plan only for public workers, and for a state without a plan, the page says:
“Connecticut operates an OSHA-approved State Plan covering state and local government workers. Private sector employers and their workers are covered by federal OSHA.”
“Alabama is not an OSHA-approved State Plan, and is under federal OSHA jurisdiction which covers most private sector workers within the state. State and local government workers are not covered by federal OSHA.”
Workers’ rights
osha.gov lists these rights (the whole list):
“Federal law gives you the right to work in a safe place. Your employer must keep the workplace free from known safety and health hazards. You can speak up or report safety concerns without being punished or treated unfairly. You also have the right to:”
“Receive workplace safety and health training in a language you understand
Work on machines that are safe
Refuse to work in a situation in which you would be exposed to a hazard
Receive required safety equipment, such as gloves or a harness and lifeline for falls
Be protected from toxic chemicals
Request an OSHA inspection, and speak to the inspector
Report an injury or illness, and get copies of your medical records
Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses
See results of tests taken to find workplace hazards”
The right to refuse work has conditions; the Workers page states them in the paragraph quoted under “How to file a complaint.”
How to file a complaint
osha.gov describes a safety and health complaint and a whistleblower complaint separately. FedRateCalc's FMLA forms and exempt vs. non-exempt pages cover other workplace rules. For a safety and health complaint:
“You (or your representative) have the right to file a confidential safety and health complaint and request an OSHA inspection of your workplace if you believe there is a serious hazard or if you think your employer is not following OSHA standards. The complaint should be filed as soon as possible after noticing the hazard. A signed complaint is more likely to result in an onsite inspection.”
“Online - Use the Online Complaint Form [Español]
Submit your complaint online to OSHA.
Fax/Mail/Email - Complete the OSHA Complaint Form [Español], or Send a Letter Describing Your Complaint
Complete the complaint form or letter, and then fax, mail, or email it back to your local OSHA office.
Telephone - Call Your Local OSHA Office or 800-321-6742 (OSHA)
OSHA staff can discuss your complaint with you and respond to any questions you may have.
In Person - Visit Your Local OSHA Office
OSHA staff can discuss your complaint with you and respond to any questions you may have.”
“Filing deadline is less than 6 months (OSHA can not issue violations for safety and health incidents that occurred more than six months prior).”
The Workers page words the timing of a safety and health complaint, and the right to refuse dangerous work, this way:
“If you believe working conditions are unsafe or unhealthful, you may file a complaint with OSHA concerning a hazardous working condition at any time. If possible, bring the conditions to your employer's attention. 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, a worker has brought the condition to the attention of the employer, the worker may have a legal right to refuse to work in a situation in which he or she would be exposed to the hazard. If you have questions about what to do, contact your local OSHA office.”
For a whistleblower complaint:
“You have the right to file a whistleblower complaint with OSHA if you believe your employer retaliated against you for exercising your rights as an employee under the whistleblower protection laws enforced by OSHA. In states with OSHA-approved State Plans, employees may file complaints with Federal OSHA and with the State Plan.”
“Online - Use the Online Whistleblower Complaint Form [Español]
Submit your complaint online to OSHA.
Fax/Mail/Email - Complete the Online Whistleblower Complaint Form [Español], or Send a Letter Describing Your Complaint
Fax, mail, or email either a letter describing your complaint or a printed copy of your completed Online Whistleblower Complaint Form to your local OSHA office. Please make sure that your correspondence includes your name, mailing address, email address, and telephone or fax number so we can contact you to follow up.
Telephone - Call Your Local OSHA Office or 800-321-6742 (OSHA)
OSHA staff can discuss your complaint with you and respond to any questions you may have.
In Person - Visit Your Local OSHA Office
OSHA staff can discuss your complaint with you and respond to any questions you may have.”
The two osha.gov pages give different whistleblower filing deadlines; the table shows both, as captured October 22, 2026, and this page does not decide between them.
| OSHA page | Wording |
|---|---|
| Workers (captured October 22, 2026) | “It is illegal for an employer to fire, demote, transfer, or otherwise retaliate against a worker for complaining to OSHA. If you believe your employer retaliated against you for using your rights under OSHA’s whistleblower protection laws, you can file a whistleblower complaint within 30 days of the retaliation.” |
| File a Complaint (captured October 22, 2026) | “Filing deadline is 30-180 days (deadlines vary with each statute)” |
osha.gov gives this contact:
“To talk about safety and health issues at work, contact OSHA toll-free at 1-800-321-6742 (OSHA), Ask OSHA a question, or find your nearest federal or State Plan office.”
Injury and illness recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904)
The recordkeeping rule says:
“The purpose of this rule (part 1904) is to require employers to record and report work-related fatalities, injuries, and illnesses.”
“Recording or reporting a work-related injury, illness, or fatality does not mean that the employer or employee was at fault, that an OSHA rule has been violated, or that the employee is eligible for workers' compensation or other benefits.”
“If your company had 10 or fewer employees at all times during the last calendar year, you do not need to keep OSHA injury and illness records unless OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics informs you in writing that you must keep records under § 1904.41 or § 1904.42. However, as required by § 1904.39, all employers covered by the OSH Act must report to OSHA any work-related incident that results in a fatality, the in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees, an employee amputation, or an employee loss of an eye.”
“If your company had more than ten (10) employees at any time during the last calendar year, you must keep OSHA injury and illness records unless your establishment is classified as a partially exempt industry under § 1904.2.”
Frequently asked questions
What does OSHA stand for?
OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov About OSHA page said “OSHA is part of the United States Department of Labor.” When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov Workers page said “The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created OSHA, which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards.”
Who does OSHA cover?
When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov About OSHA page said “The OSH Act covers most private sector employers and their workers, in addition to some public sector employers and workers in the 50 states and certain territories and jurisdictions under federal authority.” When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov Workers page said “Workers at state and local government agencies are not covered by Federal OSHA, but have OSH Act protections if they work in one of the states or territories that have an OSHA-approved state program.” 29 U.S.C. 652(5) defines “employer” to exclude “any State or political subdivision of a State”.
Does OSHA cover every workplace?
29 U.S.C. 653(b)(1) says “Nothing in this chapter shall apply to working conditions of employees with respect to which other Federal agencies, and State agencies acting under section 2021 of title 42, exercise statutory authority to prescribe or enforce standards or regulations affecting occupational safety or health.” When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov Workers page said “OSHA's protection applies to all federal agencies”, while 29 U.S.C. 652(5) excludes the United States (not including the United States Postal Service) from the definition of “employer”. The two documents word federal-agency coverage differently.
What are OSHA State Plans?
When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov State Plans page said “State Plans are OSHA-approved workplace safety and health programs operated by individual states or U.S. territories.” It listed 22 State Plans that cover both private sector and state and local government workers (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming) and seven that cover only state and local government workers (Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, U.S. Virgin Islands).
How do I file an OSHA complaint?
When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov File a Complaint page said “You (or your representative) have the right to file a confidential safety and health complaint and request an OSHA inspection of your workplace if you believe there is a serious hazard or if you think your employer is not following OSHA standards.” Its list of ways to file includes “Telephone - Call Your Local OSHA Office or 800-321-6742 (OSHA)” and “In Person - Visit Your Local OSHA Office”, alongside online and fax, mail or email options. When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov Workers page said the toll-free number is 1-800-321-6742.
What is the deadline to file an OSHA complaint?
When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov File a Complaint page said “Filing deadline is less than 6 months (OSHA can not issue violations for safety and health incidents that occurred more than six months prior)” for a safety and health complaint, and “Filing deadline is 30-180 days (deadlines vary with each statute)” for a whistleblower complaint. When we checked on November 3, 2026, the Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026 of the osha.gov Workers page said “you may file a complaint with OSHA concerning a hazardous working condition at any time” and, for a whistleblower complaint, “you can file a whistleblower complaint within 30 days of the retaliation”. The two osha.gov pages differ on the whistleblower deadline.
What does OSHA recordkeeping require?
29 CFR 1904.0 says “The purpose of this rule (part 1904) is to require employers to record and report work-related fatalities, injuries, and illnesses.” Under 29 CFR 1904.1, a company that “had 10 or fewer employees at all times during the last calendar year” does not need to keep OSHA injury and illness records unless OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics informs it in writing that it must; all employers covered by the OSH Act must still report certain work-related incidents (a fatality, an in-patient hospitalization, an amputation or a loss of an eye) as section 1904.39 requires. A company with more than ten employees at any time during the last calendar year must keep records unless its establishment is classified as a partially exempt industry under section 1904.2.
Related FedRateCalc pages
Sources
The osha.gov pages below are Internet Archive copies captured October 22, 2026. Every rule, number and phone number on this page comes from one of these documents.
- osha.gov, About OSHA (Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026)
- osha.gov, State Plans (Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026)
- osha.gov, Worker Rights and Protections (Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026)
- osha.gov, File a Complaint (Internet Archive copy captured October 22, 2026)
- 29 U.S.C. 651
- 29 U.S.C. 651, Short Title note (Pub. L. 91-596)
- 29 U.S.C. 652
- 29 U.S.C. 653
- 29 CFR 1904.0, Purpose (eCFR)
- 29 CFR 1904.1, Partial exemption for employers with 10 or fewer employees (eCFR)