Occupational Safety and Health Resource Locator

Twenty-four (24) states are covered entirely by the federal OSHA program.

Washington occupational safety and health program (WISHA) was established when the legislature passed the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act in 1973. In 1976 it became the nation's first fully operational state safety and health plan approved by the federal government. WISHA has a long prior history of public service dedicated to the protection of worker safety and health. WISHA's job is to ensure that employers provide safe and healthful working conditions for Washington's workers. WISHA works in partnership with business, labor, institutions and other government agencies to save workers' lives and to help prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. Nearly all employers and employees in Washington are covered, including workers for the state, counties and cities. WISHA is administered by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), WISHA Services Division. Employers in Washington must follow safety and health rules, called standards, to protect their employees from workplace hazards. The Department enforces the rules by inspecting workplaces without advance notice, and by investigating work-related fatalities, incidents and complaints. When a violation is found, we issue a citation requiring the employer to correct the hazard. The WISH Act requires monetary penalties for serious violations. WISHA encourages employers to voluntarily comply with the standards, and offers free on-site consultation visits and training services. Employers are required to fix serious hazards identified by a consultant, but penalties are not assessed. WISHA enforces general safety and health standards, also called horizontal standards, that all employers must comply with (Chapters 296-24 and 296-62 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC)). Industry-specific standards, also known as vertical standards, apply to about 30 specific industries such as construction.

Applicable Agencies

Federal OSHA
Department of Labor & Industries

Federal Regulations for Construction

• Interlinked Information on State Plan Standards and Policies/Directives. An OSHA system for displaying the State Plans' responses to Federal standards and directives issued after May 2006.
• Hospital e-Tool. Interactive, web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics.
• OSHA Assistance for the Residential Construction Industry. This page is maintained as a product of the Alliance between OSHA and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
• National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) OSHA Alliance. OSHA and NASF will work together to provide NASF members and others in the metal surface finishing industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect employees' health and safety.
• Inspection Procedures for the Chromium (VI) Standards (Directive number: CPL 02-02-074). The purpose of this Instruction is to provide guidelines and establish uniform inspection and compliance procedures for the occupational exposure standards for hexavalent chromium published in the Federal Register, February 28, 2006, and effective May 30, 2006. Field Operations Manual (January 2009). State status of adoption.