Texas Enforcement laws & safety compliance analysis

Texas Enforcement : What you need to know

Comparison: State vs. Federal

• Rules.Texas is not a "state-plan" state; in other words, its occupational safety and health program has not been approved by federal OSHA. Therefore, in the private sector (private businesses and nonprofit organizations), the federal OSH Act preempts state laws regarding safety and health. The state has adopted penalties that are stricter than federal penalties for agricultural employers that violate hazard communication rules.

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• Administration and enforcement. OSHA administers and enforces workplace safety and health standards in the private sector. DSHS administers the hazard communication program for public sector workplaces. TDA and TDH enforce farmworker health and safety rules. DPS administers and enforces the rules for the transportation of hazardous materials by motor carriers.

General Requirements

TABLE 1: VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY LAWS

TABLE 2: VIOLATIONS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION LAWS

DISCUSSION
TABLE 1: VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY LAWS

Prohibited Act	Penalties
Hazard communication in agriculture: Employer's violation of the Agricultural Hazard Communication Act, including knowingly falsifying data or negligently failing to disclose a hazard to employees	Civil:TAgC 125.016(f):Up to $5,000 per day per violation
Hazard communication in agriculture: Employer's causing proximate injury to an individual by knowingly disclosing false hazard information or by knowingly failing to disclose hazard information to employees	Criminal:TAgC 125.016(g):Up to $25,000
OSHA public sector: Employer violates rules for recordkeeping; failure to take action that poses a threat, substantial threat, or critical threat to employee safety and health	Administrative:25 TAC 295.11:Minor violation: up to $100Serious ...

Related Topics

State Requirements

Texas Enforcement Resources

Type	Title
Checklists	Checklist: Do you have what it takes to argue your affirmative defense?
Forms	Notice of Alleged Health or Safety Hazards
Posters	Whistleblowers Are Protected (Cal/OSHA, PDF)
White Papers	Workers are struck; Employers' appeals are struck down

See all Enforcement Resources