Pennsylvania OSHA : What you need to know

• Rules. Pennsylvania is not a “state plan” state; that is, it does not have a federally approved occupational safety and health regulatory program. Consequently, the federal OSH Act governs workplace safety and health in private (private businesses and nonprofit organizations) sector workplaces in the state. For information on the federal requirements, see the national sections HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD, MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET, and OSHA.

The state requirements for asbestos occupations follow federal requirements.

Public sector employers are also subject to the employee hazard communication requirements of the state Act 159, which are stricter than federal requirements. There are also stricter state material safety data sheet requirements for public sector workplaces under Act 165. For more information, see the state sections HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD and MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET.

There are other workplace safety and health rules for public sector employers (state and municipal agencies, and schools), but they are significantly less comprehensive than federal requirements; in most cases, they have not been updated since the 1960s.

• Administration and enforcement. OSHA administers and enforces all workplace safety and health regulations in the private sector in Pennsylvania. DOLI administers and enforces all workplace health and safety requirements in public sector workplaces, and administers and enforces the workplace safety and health rules for asbestos occupations.

A public sector employer is any state or local agency or department, including school ...