If your organization falls under the standard industrial classification code for a particular program, OSHA could show up at any point to conduct a programmed inspection. NEPs and LEPs direct what OSHA calls “programmed inspections,” where agents choose from a list of facilities and choose one at random to investigate. Watch Out for Those Programmed InspectionsĮmployers need to pay close attention to NEPs and LEPs, as these programs not only reflect high-risk areas in the workplace, but also guide the actions of federal and state OSHA. To learn what LEPs are active in your region, interact with the map above.įor a complete list of current LEPs, click here. According to OSHA, LEPs “are enforcement strategies designed and implemented at the regional office and/or area office levels” and are “intended to address hazards or industries that pose a particular risk to workers in the office’s jurisdiction.” In addition to NEPs, there are also Local Emphasis Programs and Regional Emphasis Programs, which focus on high-priority workplace safety issues in a given state or region. NEPs are temporary-they come and go as rates and causes of workforce injury, illness, and death change.Īs of March 2021, there are 10 NEPs in place: On the federal level, these are known as National Emphasis Programs, or NEPs for short. While OSHA wants to find all health and safety issues, the agency pays especially close attention to specific violations. NEPs and LEPs: OSHA’s Priorities on the Federal and State Levels
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For a full list of state plans, click here. All other territories are overseen by OSHA on the federal level. A few more states have State Plans that only apply to the public sector. For example, Cal/OSHA (California’s State Plan) has specific regulations and guidance about wildfire smoke that go beyond OSHA’s federal rules.Ĭurrently, 21 states and Puerto Rico have OSHA-approved State Plans that cover private and public employers. In addition to the regional offices, many states have their own OSHA equivalents called OSHA-approved State Plans, or just “state OSHA.” Every state OSHA’s requirements are at least as stringent as federal OSHA’s-and often more so, with additional rules pertaining to the state’s legislative priorities and environmental realities. These offices each have their own regulatory and enforcement priorities, known as Local Emphasis Programs-more on that in a moment. Each office is headquartered in a major city, and covers workplaces throughout the states and territories surrounding that city. OSHA has 10 regional offices across the United States. While people commonly think of OSHA as a centralized federal agency, it operates more like a coalition of regional teams. Here’s what you need to know about OSHA’s current priorities and how these programs and inspections work: State OSHA and Local Emphasis Program Map
This is increasingly happening through “programmed inspections,” which flow from OSHA’s Special Emphasis Programs-the National Emphasis Programs and Local Emphasis Programs. Inspectors are showing up and not leaving until they find a workplace health or safety issue for which they can fine the employer $10,000 or more. Organizations throughout the United States are facing heightened scrutiny from OSHA on both national and local levels. Lately, the agency seems to be more interested in a different goal: generating revenue. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration exists to “ensure safe and healthful working conditions” for workers “by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and assistance”Īt least that’s what OSHA’s mission is on paper.
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