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Occupational Safety & Health State Plan Association
June 6, 2005
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established OSHA at the federal level, and provided
that states may elect to administer their own occupation safety and health programs as long as
those programs are at lease as effective as federal OSHA. Under the approval of OSHA, twenty-six
states and territories operate State Plans, twenty-two of which cover both private and public
sector employment while three states and one territory cover public sector employment.
The Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association (OSHSPA) is an association comprised of
states and U.S. territories that run their own occupational safety and health programs. The OSHSPA
State Plan States share the common goal: a safe and healthful workplace for every worker through
prevention of injuries, illnesses and fatalities on the job.
Collaboration among states, federal OSHA, employers and employees is a key factor in success. The
states and territories have often worked with our federal partners and have led the way in
developing innovative approaches to making America's workplaces safer and healthier. Through
a combination of targeted enforcement and outreach services, State Plan States are helping
employers realize that protecting their workers is a sound business decision.
In this report, we describe the innovative approaches to creative partnerships, outreach and
education, voluntary compliance, inspection targeting, and settlement agreements that have been
developed by the states. All of the statistical data and much of the program-related information
has been updated.
OSHSPA members and federal OSHA will continue to work together to "Make a Difference" in the
safety and health for this nation's workers.
Sincerely,
Douglas J. Kalinowski
OSHSPA Chair |
Chair
Douglas J. Kalinowski
Michigan
Department of Labor & Economic Growth
Michigan Occupational Safety & Health Administration
P.O. Box 30643
Lansing, MI 48909
517.322.1814 Phone
517.322.1775 Fax
Vice Chair
Stephen Cant
Washington
Department of Labor and Industries
WISHA Services Division
P.O. Box 44600
Olympia, WA 98504
360.902.5430 Phone
360.902.5529 Fax
Past Chair
Peter DeLuca
Oregon
Department of Consumer and Business Services
350 Winter Street, NE
Room 430
Salem, OR 97301
503.378.3272 Phone
503.947.7461
Directors
Kevin Beauregard
North Carolina
Vicky Heza
California
Richard Palo
Connecticut
Patricia Todd
Minnesota |
| U.S. Department of Labor |
Assistant Secretary for
Occupational Safety and Health
Washington, D.C. 20210 |
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I am very pleased to have been asked to write the introductory letter to the
2004 edition of the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association's Grassroots Worker
Protection. Once again, this year's report provides numerous examples of the strategies used by the
26 State occupational safety and health plans to better protect America's working men and women.
Our State partners have always understood that making our workplaces safer and healthier requires a
balanced approach that combines fair and effective enforcement with outreach, education and
compliance assistance as well as cooperative and voluntary programs. It is clear that these
strategies have worked. Workplace injuries and illnesses have been declining for more than a decade.
In the last five years workplace injury and illness rates have decreased 11 percent, and recent
annual workplace fatality rates have been at record lows.
We at OSHA have always recognized the valuable contributions of our State plan partners and know
that those who read this year's Grassroots Worker Protection will also recognize the significant
accomplishments and innovations of the State occupational safety and health plans. In the coming
years we look forward to even great achievements in meeting the challenges that may lie ahead.
Jonathan L. Snare
Acting Assistant Secretary
Table of Contents: 2004 OSHSPA Report
OSHSPA: states protecting workers
Workplace security: safeguarding the workplace
Strategic plans: focusing on performance
Customer service: increasing program satisfaction
Enforcement: targeting high-risk worksites
State responsibility: Enhanced enforcement
State initiatives: changing the work environment
An open forum about initiatives, including:
ergonomics, workplace violence, settlement agreements, discrimination, multilingual communications,
legislative issues, etc.
State innovations: technical advances
State incentives: promoting voluntary compliance
State-plan directory
OSHSPA Board of Directors 2004 through 2005
Produced by:
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Occupational Safety and Health Division
Total copies printed: 1,500 Total cost: $3,218 Cost per copy: $2.15
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