Federal OSHA does not currently require a written safety and health plan. Washington, however, has specific requirements regarding safety and health programs (known in Washington state as accident prevention programs). Click the links below to view the applicable requirements.
Safety and health program
Citations
Federal: Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act
Washington:
WAC 296-800-130, Safety committees and safety meetings
WAC 296-800-140, Accident prevention program
A summary of the Washington state regulation includes the following:
- Establish a safety committee according to WAC 296-800-13020 if you employ 11 or more employees on the same shift at the same location. The safety committee must cover required topics and prepare minutes from each safety committee meeting.
- Optionally, you may hold monthly safety meetings according to WAC 296-800-13025 instead of a safety committee if you employ 10 or fewer employees or if you have 11 or more employees that work on different shifts with 10 of fewer employees on each shift or if you have 11 or more employees that work in widely separate locations with 10 or fewer employees at each location.
- Establish, supervise, and enforce an accident prevention program (APP) containing elements for a safety and health committee and a safety orientation, according to WAC 296-800-14005.
- Establish, supervise, and enforce the accident prevention program so that it is effective in practice.
