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Contact Information |
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Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources
Román M. Velasco González, Secretary
Prudencio Rivera Martinez Building, 21st Floor
505 Muñoz Rivera Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
PH: (787) 754-2119
Fax: (787) 753-9550
Puerto Rico Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (PR OSHA)
Myrna I. Velez, Acting Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health
Prudencio Rivera Martinez Building, 20th Floor
505 Muñoz Rivera Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
PH: (787) 756-1101
FAX: (787) 767-6051
Mailing Address:
PO Box 195540
San Juan, PR 00919-5540
PH: (787) 754-2171
Fax: (787) 767-6051
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About the Puerto Rico State Plan
The Puerto Rico Occupational Safety and Health Administration (PR
OSHA), initiated operations in 1978, after the enactment of Act No.
16 of August 5, 1975, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of
Puerto Rico, as amended by Act No. 116 of June 24, 1977; Act No. 32
of July 26, 1991; and Act No. 281 of December 19, 2002.
It is similar in most respect to the Federal Act. The purpose of the
Act is to guarantee safe and healthful working conditions for all
employees in Puerto Rico authorizing the Secretary of Labor to
prescribe and enforce safety and health standards, rules and
regulations developed or adopted; by assisting and encouraging
employers and employees in their efforts to guarantee safe and
healthful working conditions; by providing for scientific research,
information, education and training and the development of statistic
in the field of occupational safety and health. In addition, the
Puerto Rico Act requires that a Spanish language version of OSHA
standards shall be filed with the Department of State no later than
two (2) years after the original filing date. All Citation and
Notification of Penalty is issued to the employer in both languages,
English and Spanish.
Jurisdiction
The Puerto Rico State Plan applies to all public and private sector
employers in the State, with the exception of federal agencies,
maritime employers such as shipyards, marine terminals, and
longshoring; military facilities; and the U.S. Postal Service.
See
29 CFR 1952.382.
Regulations and Standards
States must set job safety and health standards that are "at least
as effective” as federal OSHA standards. States may promulgate
standards that are more stringent than the comparable federal
standards or promulgate standards covering hazards not addressed by
federal standards.
The PR OSHA Program has adopted identically all Federal OSHA
standards and regulations applicable to public and private sector
employment, with minor revisions to the Recordkeeping Rule. In
addition, PR OSHA has enacted a regulation to address workplace
violence situations, specifically implementing procedures for
handling incidents of domestic violence in the workplace.
All standards and regulations adopted by PR OSHA, including
Recordkeeping Rule and the proposed "Protocol for Handling Domestic
Violence in the Workplace" can be obtained by calling (787)
754-2172.
Enforcement Programs
The Bureau of Inspection, with its Central Office in Hato Rey, is
responsible for maintaining an effective enforcement program in the
Commonwealth. PR OSHA has maintained the Field Operations Manual (FOM)
which provides policy and procedural guidance for its enforcement
program.
PR OSHA has Safety and Health Specialists in six (6) Area Offices to
conduct inspections at private and public sector workplaces.
Following are the Area Director and address for each area office:
ARECIBO
Road 2 Km 77.2, Duhamel Bldg.
540 Miramar Avenue
Arecibo, PR 00612
Tel. (787) 878-0715 / 879-4633
Fax: (787) 878-1147
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CAGUAS
Office 107 Governmental Building
Acosta St, Box 1599
Caguas, PR 00726-1599
Tel. (787) 746-7970 / 743-5344
Fax: (787) 258-1737
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CAROLINA
Government Center
Fernández Juncos Avenue, Box 7700
Carolina, PR 00936-7700
Tel. (787)768-2800 / 768-2937
Fax: (787)750-4515
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MAYAGUEZ
Road 2, 828 Villa Capitán Bldg.
Suite 304
Mayagüez, PR 00680-1537
Tel. (787) 832-4593 / 833-2018
Fax: (787) 832-5650 |
PONCE
60 Playita Sector
Puerto Viejo
Ponce, PR 00716-8110
Tel. (787) 842-9060 / 840-4420
Fax: (787) 259-7701 |
SAN JUAN
577 Ponce De León Ave
Real Hermanos Building
Hato Rey, PR 00918
Tel. (787) 754-9416 / 754-5803
Fax: (787) 764-1427 |
PR OSHA, as part of their Strategic Plan, has implemented Local
Emphasis Programs focusing on the following industries:
- Printing, Publishing and Allied Industries
- Metal Doors and Windows Industries
- Warehousing and Storage Industries
- Public Sector
Voluntary and Cooperative Programs
This Division of Voluntary Programs, located in the Central Office
in Hato Rey, has as main purpose to assist the employers in
identifying and correcting safety and health hazards in the
workplaces and encourage the employers in establishing and
maintaining effective safety and health programs for providing safe
and healthful places of employment for their employees. Because
consultation services are voluntary, an employer must request the
service and agree to certain obligations, the principal one being
that employer agrees to correct all safety and health hazards found
during the consultation visit within an agreed-upon time frame. The
principal assistance will be provided at the employer's worksite,
but off-site assistance may also be provided by telephone and at our
Office. Also, the Division has two major voluntary recognition
programs in place:
- The Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program (SHARP)
recognizes small business employers that have made or are committed
to making improvements in their worksite-specific safety and health
programs. This is accomplished by conducting comprehensive hazard
surveys (both safety and health) using the Safety and Health
Assessment Worksheet (OSHA-33). In addition, employers must correct
all identified hazards and maintain injury and illness rates that
are below the national averages for those industries. These
worksites are exempt from programmed inspections for varying
periods, provided they continue to meet SHARP eligibility criteria.
- The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) emphasizes the importance
of, encourages the improvement of, and recognizes excellence of
occupational safety and health programs provided by the employers
with active participation of employees. The three categories are:
Guanín, Cemí and Taíno:
Guanín
Designed for worksites with comprehensive and successful safety and
health programs. This program is open to any industry and to
companies with injury incidence and lost workday injury at or below
the national average for that type of industry. The participants in
the Guanín Program are evaluated onsite every 30 to 60 months, with
annual injury rates reviews.
Cemí
Designed for worksites with the potential and commitment to achieve
Guanín qualifications. This program is open to sites injury rates
above the industry's national average. Cemí participants are
evaluated onsite annually. Successful completion of the Cemí Program
ensures eligibility for the Guanín Program.
Taíno
Designed for companies with 100 employees or less, wishing to
participate in the Guanín or Cemí Programs, but do not yet meet
their qualifications, do not have expertise nor have technical
resources available and require special guidance and assistance to
reach at least Cemí quality. This program is open to worksites with
a written safety and health program that at least cover the three
basic elements: Management Leadership, Employee Participation and
Safety and Health Trainings. Taíno participants are evaluated onsite
annually. Successful completion with the established goals may
ensure eligibility for the Guanín or Cemí Programs.
Additionally, the Division performs a series of educational
activities in the field of occupational safety and health such as
workshops, seminars and conferences. Employers may contact the
Division of Voluntary Programs to request free services at (787)
754-2172.
Policies and Procedures
Explanation of Puerto Rico's policies and procedures can be found by
contacting the
Central Office at (787) 754-2172.
Informal Conferences and Appeals
The Puerto Rico Act provides employers the right of administrative
review of citations, abatement requirements, and proposed penalties,
and employee review of abatement dates, by a hearing examiner
appointed by the Puerto Rico Secretary of Labor. The decision by the
Secretary may be appealed by the employer or employees to the civil
courts. The plan contains a statement of support by the Governor and
an opinion by the Secretary of Justice that the Act is consistent
with the State's Law and Constitution. Federal procedural
regulations will be incorporated into the Commonwealth's regulations
and the Federal Compliance Manual will be adopted to fit Puerto
Rico's Law.
Other Resources
PR OSHA's Publications and Posters and other Compliance Assistance
documents, including Standards in Spanish
Disclaimer
OSHA makes every effort to ensure that the information on this page is accurate
and up to date, but changes in state law and procedures affecting the
information on this page are beyond OSHA's control. Contact state program staff
directly to verify important information.
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