There are currently no specific standards for workplace violence. However, this page highlights Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices) and standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to workplace violence.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".
 

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

Federal Registers

• Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements. Final Rules 68:38601-38607, (2003, June 30). Deletes two provisions of the Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements rule published January 19, 2001 which required employers to check the MSD column on the OSHA 300 Log if an employee experienced a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD), and stated that MSDs are not considered privacy concern cases.
• Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements. Final Rules 66:52031-52034, (2001, October 12). Delays effective date of provisions 1904.10(a) and (b), which specify recording criteria for cases involving occupational hearing loss, 1904.12, which defines "musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)". Establishes interim criteria for recording cases of work-related hearing loss.
• Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements. Final Rules 66:5916-6135, (1999, January 19). Revises rule addressing the recording and reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses (29 CFR parts 1904 and 1952), including the forms employers use to record those injuries and illnesses.
• Search all available Federal Registers.

Standard Interpretations

• Request for OSHA national policy banning guns from the workplace and OSHA enforcement policy regarding workplace violence. (2006, September 9).
• OSHA's guidelines are advisory, do not create new employer obligations, and are not basis for citations. (2004, June 7).
• OSHA's policy for scheduling occupational fatality investigations. (1997, March 12).
• Guidelines for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs for Night Retail Establishments. (1996, October 23).
• OSHA policy regarding violent employee behavior. (1992, December 10).
• Search all available standard interpretations.