Tennessee OSHA : What you need to know

Tennessee is a “state-plan” state; that is, it has a federally approved occupational safety and health regulatory program. Consequently, both public (state, county, and local agencies and governments) and private (private businesses and nonprofit organizations) sector employers are governed by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1972 (TN OSH Act). The state has adopted the federal occupational safety and health rules by reference, with additional requirements for hazard communication and permissible exposure limits (PELs) that are stricter than federal standards. For more information about state hazard communication rules, see the state sections sections HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD and MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET.

All private and public (state and local government offices and operations) sector employers subject to the state’s workers’ compensation law and whose claims experience places them in the top 25 percent of all covered employers must establish a safety committee at each of the employer’s primary place of employment.

See the national section OSHA for information on the federal requirements.

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) administers and enforces occupational safety and health requirements in private and public sector workplaces. Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) administers the safety committee requirements.

TOSHA is a division within the Tennessee DOLWD. TOSHA protects workers from occupational hazards through its occupational safety and health rules.

The TN OSH Act gives TOSHA primary responsibility for ...