Who is osha exempt

Certain types of employers and businesses are expressly exempt from the OSH Act itself, meaning that none of the rules apply to them. These include self-employed people, farms that employ only immediate family members, and employers of individual household or domestic workers for jobs such as house cleaning and childcare.

Churches and religious establishments, states, and businesses governed by federal agencies are also exempt from OSH Act regulations. Additionally, OSHA does not cover state and local government workers.

However, these workers are usually protected under state-approved programs. OSHA does apply to all federal government workers , but it does not apply when a federal agency like the Department of Energy regulates a workplace.

No matter the size of your company or the risk level of your industry, all work-related incidents resulting in the hospitalization of three or more employees, or in the death of any employee, must be reported to OSHA. If OSHA suspects health hazards based on employee complaints, lead or silica hazards, or imminent danger, they can inspect at any time. There are a lot of factors involved when it comes to OSHA rules for small businesses, and understanding what you must follow vs what you are exempt from as a small business owner can be quite complex.

Businesses themselves are often complex and constantly evolving, so it can be difficult to figure out where you fall under these OSH Act regulations at any given point. Knowing your status under the Act can help you avoid the penalties that come with non-compliance, which will, of course, save you money in the long run.

Thanks for reading! Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As best practices change regularly, you should refer to your trusted advisor for specific counsel. Become a Partner Agency Sign In. OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations.

Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations.

This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. Cynthia L. Your session has expired. Please log in as a SHRM member. Cancel Sign In. Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks. OK Join. An error has occurred. From Email. To Email.

Send Cancel Close. Post a Job See All Jobs. Get unlimited access to articles and member-only resources. HR Daily Newsletter News, trends and analysis, as well as breaking news alerts, to help HR professionals do their jobs better each business day.

Contact Us SHRM