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Best Practices Guide:

Fundamentals of a
Workplace First-Aid
Program

OSHA 3317-06N 2006

This best practices guide is not a standard or
regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations,
nor does it change any existing OSHA standard or
regulation. The guide is advisory in nature, informational in content, and is intended to assist
employers in providing a safe and healthful
workplace.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
(OSH Act) requires employers to comply with
hazard-specific safety and health standards and
regulations as issued and enforced by either
the Federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), or an OSHA-approved
State Plan. In addition, employers must provide
their employees with a workplace free from
recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious
physical harm under Section 5(a)(1), the General
Duty Clause of the Act. Employers can be cited for
violating the General Duty Clause if there is a
recognized hazard and they do not take steps to
prevent or abate the hazard. However, failure to
implement this guide is not, in itself, a violation of
the General Duty Clause. Citations can only be
based on standards, regulations, and the General
Duty Clause.

Best Practices Guide:

Fundamentals of a
Workplace First-Aid
Program
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA 3317-06N
2006

Contents
Introduction and Purpose . . . 3
The Risks: Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities . . . 4
Assess the Risks and Design a First-Aid Program
Specific for the Worksite . . . 5
OSHA Requirements . . . 8
First-Aid Supplies . . . 9
Automated External Defibrillators . . . 10
First-Aid Courses . . . 11
Elements of a First-Aid Training Program . . . 11
Trainee Assessment . . . 15
Skills Update . . . 15
Program Update . . . 15
Summary . . . 16
Additional Resources on First Aid, CPR
and AEDs . . . 16
References . . . 17
OSHA Assistance . . . 18
OSHA Regional Offices . . . 23

Introduction and Purpose
First aid is emergency care provided for injury or sudden illness
before emergency medical treatment is available. The first-aid
provider in the workplace is someone who is trained in the delivery
of initial medical emergency procedures, using a limited amount of
equipment to perform a primary assessment and intervention
while awaiting arrival of emergency medical service (EMS)
personnel.
A workplace first-aid program is part of a comprehensive safety
and health management system that includes the following four
essential elements 1:
■ Management Leadership and Employee Involvement
■ Worksite Analysis
■ Hazard Prevention and Control
■ Safety and Health Training
The purpose of this guide is to present a summary of the basic
elements for a first-aid program at the workplace. Those elements
include:
■ Identifying and assessing the workplace risks that have potential
to cause worker injury or illness.
■ Designing and implementing a workplace first-aid program that:
• Aims to minimize the outcome of accidents or exposures
• Complies with OSHA requirements relating to first aid
• Includes sufficient quantities of appropriate and readily
accessible first-aid supplies and first-aid equipment, such as
bandages and automated external defibrillators.
• Assigns and trains first-aid providers who:
receive first-aid training suitable to the specific workplace
receive periodic refresher courses on first-aid skills and
knowledge.
■

■

1
CSP 03-01-002 - TED 8.4 - Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP): Policies and
Procedures Manual Notice. 54 Federal Register 3904-3916. Available at
www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id
=2976

■

Instructing all workers about the first-aid program, including
what workers should do if a coworker is injured or ill. Putting
the policies and program in writing is recommended to
implement this and other program elements.
Providing for scheduled evaluation and changing of the first-aid
program to keep the program current and applicable to emerging
risks in the workplace, including regular assessment of the
adequacy of the first-aid training course.

This guide also includes an outline of the essential elements of
safe and effective first-aid training for the workplace as guidance to
institutions teaching first-aid courses and to the consumers of
these courses.

The Risks: Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities
There were 5,703 work-related fatalities in private industry in 2004.
In that same year there were 4.3 million total workplace injuries
and illnesses, of which 1.3 million resulted in days away from
work.
Occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities in 2004 cost the
United States’ economy $142.2 billion, according to National
Safety Council estimates. The average cost per occupational
fatality in 2004 exceeded one million dollars. To cover the costs to
employers from workplace injuries, it has been calculated that
each and every employee in this country would have had to
generate $1,010 in revenue in 2004.2
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may occur at work. According to
recent statistics from the American Heart Association, there are
250,000 out-of-hospital SCAs annually. The actual number of SCAs
that happen at work are unknown. If an employee collapses
without warning and is not attended to promptly and effectively,
the employee may die. Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by
abnormal, uncoordinated beating of the heart or loss of the
heartbeat altogether, usually as a result of a heart attack.
2

National Safety Council. (2006). Injury Facts, 2004 - 2006 Edition. Itasca, IL, p. 51.

Workplace events such as electrocution or exposure to low oxygen
environments can lead to SCA. Overexertion at work can also
trigger SCA in those with underlying heart disease.
The outcome of occupational illnesses and injuries depends on
the severity of the injury, available first-aid care and medical
treatment. Prompt, properly administered first aid may mean the
difference between rapid or prolonged recovery, temporary or
permanent disability, and even life or death.

Assess the Risks and Design a First-Aid
Program Specific for the Worksite
Obtaining and evaluating information about the injuries, illnesses
and fatalities at a worksite are essential first steps in planning a
first-aid program. Employers can use the OSHA 300 log, OSHA
301 forms, their Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier reports
or other records to help identify the first-aid needs for their
businesses. For risk assessment purposes, national data for
injuries, illnesses and fatalities may be obtained from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS) website at www.bls.gov/iif. The annual
data, beginning in 2003, are grouped by the North American
Industrial Classification System (NAICS) that assigns a numeric
code for each type of work establishment. Prior to 2003, the
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was used to
categorize the data instead of NAICS.
The graphs that follow provide examples of fatality, injury and
illness analyses that can be developed using BLS data.

Figure 1 shows the distribution by NAICS sector of workplace
fatalities that occurred in private industry in 2004, the most
recent year for which data was available.
Figure 1. Percent Fatalities in Private Industry by NAICS Sector, 2004
Information
Financial Activities

NAICS Sector

Education and
health services
Other services
Leisure and hospitality
Professional and
business services
Manufacturing
Natural resources
and mining
Construction
Trade, transportation
and utilities
0

Percent Fatalities of 5,703 total fatalities
Note: The total includes fatalities that occurred in the public sector;
therefore, the percentages above do not add up to 100.

The categories of events or exposures responsible for workplace
fatalities in 2004 are shown in Figure 2. More detailed data are
available from the BLS website.
Figure 2. Occupational Fatalities by Event or Exposure, 2004
Fires and explosions

Event or Exposure

Exposure to
harmful substances

Falls

Assaults and
violent acts
Contact with objects
and equipment
Transportation
incidents
0

Percent of 5,703 total fatalities

Figure 3 reflects total injuries and illnesses by NAICS sector based
on 2004 BLS data. Data that are more specific to businesses within
these sectors may be obtained from the BLS website.
Figure 3. Number of Recordable Injuries and Illnesses by NAICS Sector, 2004
Information
Natural resources
and mining

NAICS Sector

Other services
Financial activities
Professional and
business surfaces
Leisure and
hospitality
Construction
Educational and
health services
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation
and utilities
0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000 1,200,000 1,400,000

Number of Recordable Injuries and Illnesses

The graph in Figure 4 shows the number of injuries and illnesses
in private industry by the type of event or exposure responsible for
them that resulted in days away from work in 2004. More detailed
data may be found on the BLS website.
Figure 4. Private Industry Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away from
Work per 10,000 Employees by Event or Exposure, 2004
Fires and explosions

Event or Exposure

Assualts and
violent acts
Exposure to harmful
substances or
environments
Transportation
accidents
Falls
Contact with objects
and equipment
Bodily reaction
and exertion
0

Injuries and Illnesses with Days Away from Work per 10,000 Employees

Employers should make an effort to obtain estimates of EMS
response times for all permanent and temporary locations and for
all times of the day and night at which they have workers on duty,
and they should use that information when planning their first-aid
program. When developing a workplace first-aid program, consultation with the local fire and rescue service or emergency medical professionals may be helpful for response time information and other
program issues. Because it can be a workplace event, SCA should
be considered by employers when planning a first-aid program.
It is advisable to put the First-Aid Program policies and
procedures in writing. Policies and procedures should be communicated to all employees, including those workers who may not
read or speak English. Language barriers should be addressed
both in instructing employees on first-aid policies and procedures
and when designating individuals who will receive first-aid training
and become the on-site first-aid providers.

OSHA Requirements
Sudden injuries or illnesses, some of which may be life-threatening, occur at work. The OSHA First Aid standard (29 CFR 1910.151)
requires trained first-aid providers at all workplaces of any size if
there is no “infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the
workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees.”
In addition to first-aid requirements of 29 CFR 1910.151, several
OSHA standards also require training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because sudden cardiac arrest from asphyxiation,
electrocution, or exertion may occur. CPR may keep the victim
alive until EMS arrives to provide the next level of medical care.
However, survival from this kind of care is low, only 5-7%,
according to the American Heart Association. The OSHA standards
requiring CPR training are:
1910.146
1910.266
1910.269
8

Permit-required Confined Spaces
Appendix B: Logging Operations – First-Aid and CPR
Training
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and
Distribution

1910.410
1926.950

Qualifications of Dive Team
Construction Subpart V, Power Transmission and
Distribution

If an employee is expected to render first aid as part of his or
her job duties, the employee is covered by the requirements of the
Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR
1910.1030). This standard includes specific training requirements.
A few of the medical emergency procedures mentioned in this
guide as first aid may be considered medical treatment for OSHA
recordkeeping purposes. The OSHA Recording and Reporting
Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation (29 CFR 1904)
provides specific definitions of first aid and medical treatment. If a
medical emergency procedure which is considered by 29 CFR 1904
to be medical treatment is performed on an employee with an
occupational injury or illness, then the injury or illness will be
regarded as recordable on the OSHA 300 Log.

First-Aid Supplies
It is advisable for the employer to give a specific person the responsibility for choosing the types and amounts of first-aid supplies and
for maintaining these supplies. The supplies must be adequate,
should reflect the kinds of injuries that occur, and must be stored in
an area where they are readily available for emergency access. An
automated external defibrillator (AED) should be considered when
selecting first-aid supplies and equipment.
A specific example of the minimal contents of a workplace firstaid kit is described in American National Standards Institute ANSI
Z308.1 - 2003, Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits.
The kits described are suitable for small businesses. For large
operations, employers should determine how many first-aid kits
are needed, and if it is appropriate to augment the kits with
additional first-aid equipment and supplies.
Employers who have unique or changing first-aid needs should
consider upgrading their first-aid kits. The employer can use the
OSHA 300 log, OSHA 301 reports or other records to identify the
first-aid supply needs of their worksite. Consultation with the local
9

fire and rescue service or emergency medical professionals may be
beneficial. By assessing the specific needs of their workplaces,
employers can ensure the availability of adequate first-aid supplies.
Employers should periodically reassess the demand for these
supplies and adjust their inventories.

Automated External Defibrillators
With recent advances in technology, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are now widely available, safe, effective, portable, and
easy to use. They provide the critical and necessary treatment for
sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) caused by ventricular fibrillation, the
uncoordinated beating of the heart leading to collapse and death.
Using AEDs as soon as possible after sudden cardiac arrest, within
3-4 minutes, can lead to a 60% survival rate.3 CPR is of value
because it supports the circulation and ventilation of the victim
until an electric shock delivered by an AED can restore the fibrillating heart to normal.
All worksites are potential candidates for AED programs
because of the possibility of SCA and the need for timely defibrillation. Each workplace should assess its own requirements for an
AED program as part of its first-aid response.
A number of issues should be considered in setting up a
worksite AED program: physician oversight; compliance with local,
state and federal regulations; coordination with local EMS; a
quality assurance program; and a periodic review, among others.
The OSHA website at www.osha.gov or the websites of the
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at
www.acoem.org, the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org, the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org,
Federal Occupational Health at www.foh.dhhs.gov, and the
National Center for Early Defibrillation at www.early-defib.org can
provide additional information about AED program development.
3
American Heart Association in collaboration with International Liaison Committee
on Resuscitation. Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and
Emergency Cardiovascular Care: International Consensus on Science, Part 4: The
Automated External Defibrillator. Circulation. 2000; Vol. 102, Supplement: I 61.
Figure 1.

First-Aid Courses
Training for first aid is offered by the American Heart Association,
the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council, and other
nationally recognized and private educational organizations. OSHA
does not teach first-aid courses or certify first-aid training courses
for instructors or trainees.
First-aid courses should be individualized to the needs of the
workplace. Some of the noted program elements may be optional
for a particular plant or facility. On the other hand, unique
conditions at a specific worksite may necessitate the addition of
customized elements to a first-aid training program.

Elements of a First-Aid Training Program
There are a number of elements to include when planning a firstaid training program for a particular workplace. These recommendations are based on the best practices and evidence available at
the time this guide was written. Statistical information is available
from BLS to help assess the risks for specific types of work.
Program elements to be considered are:
1. Teaching Methods
Training programs should incorporate the following principles:
■ Basing the curriculum on a consensus of scientific evidence
where available;
■ Having trainees develop “hands-on” skills through the use of
mannequins and partner practice;
■ Having appropriate first-aid supplies and equipment available;
■ Exposing trainees to acute injury and illness settings as well as
to the appropriate response through the use of visual aids;
■ Including a course information resource for reference both
during and after training;
■ Allowing enough time for emphasis on commonly occurring
situations;
■ Emphasizing skills training and confidence-building over
classroom lectures;
■ Emphasizing quick response to first-aid situations.
11

2. Preparing to Respond to a Health Emergency
The training program should include instruction or discussion in
the following:
■

■
■

■

Prevention as a strategy in reducing fatalities, illnesses and
injuries;
Interacting with the local EMS system;
Maintaining a current list of emergency telephone numbers
(police, fire, ambulance, poison control) accessible by all
employees;
Understanding the legal aspects of providing first-aid care,
including Good Samaritan legislation, consent, abandonment,
negligence, assault and battery, State laws and regulations;
Understanding the effects of stress, fear of infection, panic; how
they interfere with performance; and what to do to overcome
these barriers to action;
Learning the importance of universal precautions and body
substance isolation to provide protection from bloodborne
pathogens and other potentially infectious materials. Learning
about personal protective equipment -- gloves, eye protection,
masks, and respiratory barrier devices. Appropriate management
and disposal of blood-contaminated sharps and surfaces; and
awareness of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard.

3. Assessing the Scene and the Victim(s)
The training program should include instruction in the following:
■

■

■
■

■

Assessing the scene for safety, number of injured, and nature of
the event;
Assessing the toxic potential of the environment and the need
for respiratory protection;
Establishing the presence of a confined space and the need for
respiratory protection and specialized training to perform a rescue;
Prioritizing care when there are several injured;
Assessing each victim for responsiveness, airway patency
(blockage), breathing, circulation, and medical alert tags;
Taking a victim’s history at the scene, including determining the
mechanism of injury;
Performing a logical head-to-toe check for injuries;

■
■
■

■

Stressing the need to continuously monitor the victim;
Emphasizing early activation of EMS;
Indications for and methods of safely moving and rescuing
victims;
Repositioning ill/injured victims to prevent further injury.

4. Responding to Life-Threatening Emergencies
The training program should be designed or adapted for the specific
worksite and may include first-aid instruction in the following:
■
■
■
■
■
■
■

■

■
■

■

Establishing responsiveness;
Establishing and maintaining an open and clear airway;
Performing rescue breathing;
Treating airway obstruction in a conscious victim;
Performing CPR;
Using an AED;
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of shock and providing
first aid for shock due to illness or injury;
Assessing and treating a victim who has an unexplained change
in level of consciousness or sudden illness;
Controlling bleeding with direct pressure;
Poisoning
• Ingested poisons: alkali, acid, and systemic poisons. Role of
the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222);
• Inhaled poisons: carbon monoxide; hydrogen sulfide; smoke;
and other chemical fumes, vapors, and gases. Assessing the
toxic potential of the environment and the need for respirators;
• Knowledge of the chemicals at the worksite and of first aid and
treatment for inhalation or ingestion;
• Effects of alcohol and illicit drugs so that the first-aid provider
can recognize the physiologic and behavioral effects of these
substances.
Recognizing asphyxiation and the danger of entering a confined
space without appropriate respiratory protection. Additional
training is required if first-aid personnel will assist in the rescue
from the confined space.
Responding to Medical Emergencies
• Chest pain;
13

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Stroke;
Breathing problems;
Anaphylactic reaction;
Hypoglycemia in diabetics taking insulin;
Seizures;
Pregnancy complications;
Abdominal injury;
Reduced level of consciousness;
Impaled object.

5. Responding to Non-Life-Threatening Emergencies
The training program should be designed for the specific worksite
and include first-aid instruction for the management of the following:
■

■

Wounds
• Assessment and first aid for wounds including abrasions, cuts,
lacerations, punctures, avulsions, amputations and crush injuries;
• Principles of wound care, including infection precautions;
• Principles of body substance isolation, universal precautions
and use of personal protective equipment.
Burns
• Assessing the severity of a burn;
• Recognizing whether a burn is thermal, electrical, or chemical
and the appropriate first aid;
• Reviewing corrosive chemicals at a specific worksite, along
with appropriate first aid.
Temperature Extremes
• Exposure to cold, including frostbite and hypothermia;
• Exposure to heat, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
• Fractures;
• Sprains, strains, contusions and cramps;
• Head, neck, back and spinal injuries;
• Appropriate handling of amputated body parts.
Eye injuries
• First aid for eye injuries;

■

• First aid for chemical burns.
Mouth and Teeth Injuries
• Oral injuries; lip and tongue injuries; broken and missing teeth;
• The importance of preventing aspiration of blood and/or teeth.
Bites and Stings
• Human and animal bites;
• Bites and stings from insects; instruction in first-aid treatment
of anaphylactic shock.

Trainee Assessment
Assessment of successful completion of the first-aid training
program should include instructor observation of acquired skills
and written performance assessments.

Skills Update
First-aid responders may have long intervals between learning and
using CPR and AED skills. Numerous studies have shown a
retention rate of 6-12 months of these critical skills. The American
Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee
encourages skills review and practice sessions at least every 6
months for CPR and AED skills. Instructor-led retraining for lifethreatening emergencies should occur at least annually. Retraining
for non-life-threatening response should occur periodically.

Program Update
The first-aid program should be reviewed periodically to determine
if it continues to address the needs of the specific workplace.
Training, supplies, equipment and first-aid policies should be added
or modified to account for changes in workplace safety and health
hazards, worksite locations and worker schedules since the last
program review. The first-aid training program should be kept up-todate with current first-aid techniques and knowledge. Outdated
training and reference materials should be replaced or removed.
15

Summary
Employers are required by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151 to
have a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid for
worksites that are not in near proximity to an infirmary, clinic, or
hospital.
It is advised that the first-aid program for a particular workplace
be designed to reflect the known and anticipated risks of the
specific work environment. Consultation with local emergency
medical experts and providers of first-aid training is encouraged
when developing a first-aid program.
The program must comply with all applicable OSHA standards
and regulations. (See section on OSHA Requirements.) OSHA
requires certain employers to have CPR-trained rescuers on site.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a potential risk at all worksites,
regardless of the type of work. Serious consideration should be
given to establishing a workplace AED program.
First-aid supplies must be available in adequate quantities and
be readily accessible.
First-aid training courses should include instruction in general
and workplace hazard-specific knowledge and skills. CPR training
should incorporate AED training if an AED is available at the
worksite. First-aid training should be repeated periodically to
maintain and update knowledge and skills.
Management commitment and worker involvement is vital in
developing, implementing and assessing a workplace first-aid
program.

Additional Resources on First Aid, CPR
and AEDs
American Association of Occupational Health Nursing at
www.aaohn.org
National Safety Council at www.nsc.org

References
American Heart Association. Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED.
Publication 70-2562. Dallas: American Heart Association. 2002.
American Heart Association in collaboration with International
Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. Guidelines 2000 for
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular
Care: International Consensus on Science, Part 3: Adult Basic Life
Support. Circulation. 2000; Vol. 102, Supplement I: I 22 - I 59.
American Red Cross. First Aid: Responding to Emergencies. Third
Edition. 2001.
ANSI Z308.1-2003. Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid
Kits. Arlington VA: International Safety Equipment Association.
2003.
ASTM F2171-02. Standard Guide for Defining the Performance of
First Aid Providers in Occupational Settings. West Conshohocken,
PA. ASTM International. 2002.
Caffrey, S.L., Willoughby, P.J., Pepe, P.E., and Becker, L.B. Public use
of automated external defibrillators. New Eng J Med 2002;
347(16):1242-47.
ECC Committee, Subcommittees and Task Forces of the American
Heart Association. 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
Circulation. 2005 Dec. 13; Vol. 112, Issue 24 Supplement: IV 1-IV 203.
National Guidelines for First Aid Training in Occupational Settings
(Revised 2002) 2nd Ed. Available: www.ngfatos.net [June 30, 2004]
National Safety Council. Injury Facts, 2005 - 2006 Edition. Itasca, IL
(2006).
National Safety Council, Standard First Aid, CPR and AED, McGrawHill. New York NY. (2005).
U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Injuries,
Illnesses, and Fatalities at www.bls.gov/iif
U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration. Directive CPL 02-02-053. Guidelines for First Aid
Training Programs. 1991.
17

OSHA Assistance
OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety of programs,
including technical assistance about effective safety and health
programs, state plans, workplace consultations, voluntary protection programs, strategic partnerships, training and education,
and more. An overall commitment to workplace safety and health
can add value to your business, to your workplace and to your life.

Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines
Effective management of worker safety and health protection is
a decisive factor in reducing the extent and severity of work-related
injuries and illnesses and their related costs. To assist employers
and employees in developing effective safety and health programs,
OSHA published recommended Safety and Health Program
Management Guidelines (54 Federal Register 3904-3916, January
26, 1989). These voluntary guidelines apply to all places of
employment covered by OSHA.
The guidelines identify four general elements that are critical to
the development of a successful safety and health management
program:
Management leadership and employee involvement;
Work analysis;
Hazard prevention and control; and
Safety and health training.
The guidelines recommend specific actions under each of these
general elements to achieve an effective safety and health program.
The guidelines can be viewed on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov
under the heading Federal Registers.

State Programs
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act)
encourages states to develop and operate their own job safety and
health plans. States with plans approved by OSHA under section
18(b) of the OSH Act must adopt standards and enforce require18

ments that are at least as effective as federal requirements. There
are currently 26 state plan states: 22 of these administer plans
covering both private and public (state and local government)
employees; the other plans, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York
and the Virgin Islands, cover public sector employees only.

Consultation Services
Consultation assistance is available on request to employers
who want help in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful
workplace. Largely funded by OSHA, the service is provided at no
cost to the employer. Primarily developed for smaller employers
with more hazardous operations, the consultation service is
delivered by state governments employing professional safety
and health consultants. Comprehensive assistance includes an
appraisal of all mechanical systems, work practices and occupational safety and health hazards of the workplace and all aspects of the
employer’s present job safety and health program.
The program is separate from OSHA’s inspection efforts. No
penalties are proposed or citations issued for hazards identified by
the consultant. The service is confidential. For more information
concerning consultation assistance, see the OSHA website at
www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult.html.

Voluntary Protection Programs
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs) and onsite consultation
services, when coupled with an effective enforcement program,
expand worker protection to help meet the goals of the OSH Act.
The three levels of VPP—Star, Merit, and Star Demonstration—are
designed to recognize outstanding achievement by companies that
have successfully incorporated comprehensive safety and health
programs into their total management system. The VPPs motivate
others to achieve excellent safety and health results in the same
outstanding way as they establish a cooperative relationship
among employers, employees and OSHA.
For additional information on VPPs and how to apply, visit OSHA’s
website at: www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html or contact your nearest
OSHA Area or Regional Office listed at the end of this publication.
19

Strategic Partnership Program
OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program, the newest of OSHA’s
cooperative programs, helps encourage, assist and recognize the
efforts of partners to eliminate serious workplace hazards and
achieve a high level of worker safety and health. Whereas OSHA’s
Consultation Program and VPP entail one-on-one relationships
between OSHA and individual worksites, most strategic partnerships seek to have a broader impact by building cooperative relationships with groups of employers and employees. These partnerships are voluntary, cooperative relationships between OSHA,
employers, employee representatives and others (e.g., labor
unions, trade and professional associations, universities and other
government agencies). For more information on this and other
cooperative programs, contact your nearest OSHA office, or visit
OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov

Alliance Programs
The Alliances Program enables organizations committed to
workplace safety and health to collaborate with OSHA to prevent
injuries and illnesses in the workplace. OSHA and the Alliance
participants work together to reach out to, educate and lead the
nation’s employers and their employees in improving and
advancing workplace safety and health.
Groups that can form an Alliance with OSHA include employers,
labor unions, trade or professional groups, educational institutions
and government agencies. In some cases, organizations may be
building on existing relationships with OSHA through other
cooperative programs.
There are few formal program requirements for Alliances and the
agreements do not include an enforcement component. However,
OSHA and the participating organizations must define, implement
and meet a set of short- and long-term goals that fall into three
categories: training and education; outreach and communication; and
promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health.

Training and Education
OSHA’s area offices offer a variety of information services, such
as compliance assistance, publications, audiovisual aids, technical
advice, and speakers for special engagements.
OSHA’s Training Institute in Arlington Heights, IL, provides basic
and advanced courses in safety and health for federal and state
compliance officers, state consultants, federal agency personnel
and private sector employers, employees and their representatives.
The OSHA Training Institute also has established OSHA
Training Institute Education Centers to address the increased
demand for its courses from the private sector and from other
federal agencies (see OSHA’s website at: www.osha.gov/fso/ote/
training/edcenters/index.html). These centers are nonprofit
colleges, universities and other organizations that have been
selected after a competition for participation in the program.
OSHA also provides funds to nonprofit organizations, through
grants, to conduct workplace training and education in subjects
where OSHA believes there is a lack of workplace training.
Grants are awarded annually. Grant recipients are expected to
contribute 20 percent of the total grant cost.
For more information on grants, training and education, contact
the OSHA Training Institute, Office of Training and Education, on
OSHA’s website at: www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/index.html, or at 2020
South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4102,
(847) 297-4810, Fax (847) 297-4874. For further information on any
OSHA program, contact your nearest OSHA area or regional office
listed at the end of this publication.

Information Available Electronically
OSHA has a variety of materials and tools available on its
website at www.osha.gov. These include e-Tools such as Expert
Advisors, Electronic Compliance Assistance Tools (e-cats),
Technical Links; regulations, directives and publications; videos
and other information for employers and employees. OSHA’s
s o f t w a r e programs and compliance assistance tools walk you

through challenging safety and health issues and common problems
to find the best solutions for your workplace.
A wide variety of OSHA materials, including standards, interpretations, directives, and more, can be purchased on CD-ROM from
the U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents,
phone toll-free (866) 512-1800.

OSHA Publications
OSHA has an extensive publications program. For a listing of
free or sales items, visit OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov or
contact the OSHA Publications Office, U.S. Department of Labor,
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington, DC 20210.
Telephone (202) 693-1888 or fax to (202) 693-2498.

Contacting OSHA
To report an emergency, file a complaint or seek OSHA advice,
assistance or products, call (800) 321-OSHA or contact your nearest
OSHA regional or area office listed below. The teletypewriter (TTY)
number is (877) 889-5627.
You can also file a complaint online and obtain more information on OSHA federal and state programs by visiting OSHA’s
website at www.osha.gov.
For further information on any OSHA program, contact your
nearest OSHA area or regional office listed at the end of this
publication.

OSHA Regional Offices
Region I
(CT,* ME, MA, NH, RI, VT*)
JFK Federal Building, Room E340
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-9860

Region VI
(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)
525 Griffin Street, Room 602
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 767-4731 or 4736 x224

Region II
(NJ,* NY,* PR,* VI*)
201 Varick Street, Room 670
New York, NY 10014
(212) 337-2378

Region VII
(IA,* KS, MO, NE)
City Center Square
1100 Main Street, Suite 800
Kansas City, MO 64105
(816) 426-5861

Region III
(DE, DC, MD,* PA, VA,* WV)
The Curtis Center
170 S. Independence Mall West
Suite 740 West
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309
(215) 861-4900
Region IV
(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC,* SC,* TN*)
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-2300
Region V
(IL, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)
230 South Dearborn Street
Room 3244
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 353-2220

Region VIII
(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT,* WY*)
1999 Broadway, Suite 1690
PO Box 46550
Denver, CO 80202-5716
(720) 264-6550
Region IX
(American Samoa, AZ,* CA,* HI,* NV,*
Northern Mariana Islands)
71 Stevenson Street, Room 420
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 975-4310
Region X
(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)
1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715
Seattle, WA 98101-3212
(206) 553-5930

* These 26 states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved job
safety and health programs (Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and the
Virgin Islands plans cover public employees only). States with approved
programs must have standards that are identical to, or at least as effective
as, the Federal OSHA standards.
Note: To get contact information for OSHA Area Offices, OSHAapproved State Plans and OSHA Consultation Projects, please visit us
online at www.osha.gov or call us at 1-800-321-OSHA.

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and
healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s
role is to assure the safety and health of America’s
workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing
partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.
This handbook provides a general overview of a
particular topic related to OSHA standards. It does
not alter or determine compliance responsibilities in
OSHA standards or the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970. Because interpretations and enforcement policy may change over time, you should
consult current OSHA administrative interpretations
and decisions by the Occupational Safety and Health
Review Commission and the Courts for additional
guidance on OSHA compliance requirements.
This publication is in the public domain and may be
reproduced, fully or partially, without permission.
Source credit is requested but not required.
This information is available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 6931999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

www.osha.gov

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