• There is no requirement for a formal safety and health management program at the federal OSHA level.
• Some state agencies may be more stringent than federal OSHA.

At the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) level, there is currently no requirement for employers to have a formal safety and health management program or system. However, some state workplace safety or workers’ compensation agencies may be more stringent than federal OSHA and, in fact, require some form of safety and health program. Check state workplace safety or workers’ compensation laws and regulations for requirements, if any.

While not specifically required by federal OSHA, all employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act could benefit from implementing a safety and health program. The program would apply to hazards covered by the General Duty Clause, or 5(a)(1) of the Act, and by OSHA standards. For “multi-employer” worksites, programs should be coordinated and communicated to ensure that the host employer and contractor, subcontractor, or temporary staffing agency understand their respective responsibilities for controlling hazards.

Based on the growing support for safety and health programs, OSHA issued its first “Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines” in January 1989. In 2015, OSHA updated the 1989 guidelines with two new publications and quickly revised them again in 2016. They include OSHA 3885, “Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs,” and OSHA 3886, “Recommended Practices for Safety & Health Programs in Construction.” These publications are not standards or regulations, nor do they create an obligation under the OSH Act.

In 2026, OSHA launched its Safety Champions Program, a voluntary cooperative program that aims to encourage participating employers to develop and/or improve safety and health programs through collaboration. The program supports alignment with OSHA's 2016 Recommended Practices and is one of many voluntary approaches to reducing the risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.