Do you know what the requirements are for OSHA’s workplace posters? How often do they change? Do they vary from state to state? Can you post them electronically? Where can you get them?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) workplace posting requirements should be one of the simplest things to knock off your compliance list. Here’s how to get it done.
What Are the Requirements for Workplace Posters?
Who must post an OSHA poster? All employers covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) must post in a prominent place an official notice from OSHA to employees, informing them of their rights and obligations under the OSH Act.
What must be on the OSHA poster? The notice must state that for assistance and information, including copies of the OSH Act and of specific safety and health standards, employees should contact the employer or the nearest office of the Department of Labor.
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How must the OSHA poster be made available? The notice must be posted in each establishment in a conspicuous place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted. It must be physically posted; unlike safety data sheets, there is no provision for maintaining or making your OSHA poster available in electronic format.
Where can I get an OSHA poster? You can download the OSHA posters for free from www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.html.
What about third parties who sell the OSHA poster? Some private companies sell a version of the OSHA poster, but you do not have to buy a compliant poster; OSHA provides them free of charge. In some cases, individuals have fraudulently identified themselves as OSHA representatives and threatened to fine employers that do not buy their OSHA posters. If you encounter such an imposter, OSHA asks that you file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0048-government-imposter-scams.
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Does my OSHA poster have to be specific to the state I’m in? Yes, if you are in one of the 22 states or jurisdictions with an OSHA-approved regulatory program, such as California. Workplaces that are under the jurisdiction of federal OSHA must use the federal poster.
Does the OSHA poster change? It does change, periodically. There is no automatic update service available from OSHA. The best way to keep abreast of changes is to make a point of checking either federal OSHA’s publications page or your state OSHA agency’s publications page once a year.
What about my workers who do not speak English? Federal OSHA’s workplace poster has long been available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish. It is also newly available (as of 2014) in Chinese, Nepali, and Korean.
Need more assistance with required workplace postings and paperwork? Check out the guidance you can find at Safety.BLR.com®.