FAQs

What is the difference between PEOSH and OSHA? PEOSH, Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health. It is the Division within the Oklahoma Department of Labor which has the authority to enforce Occupational Safety and Health Laws, for the Public Sector workforce in the State of Oklahoma. OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is the section within the federal Department of Labor which has the authority to enforce Occupational Safety and Health Laws, for the Private Sector workforce in the State of Oklahoma, in addition to having broad authority across the nation for ensuring worker's protection.

As used in the Oklahoma Occupational Health and Safety Standards Act: "Employer" means the state and all its political subdivisions which has in its employ one or more individuals performing services for it in employment; and "Employee" means a person permitted to work by an employer in employment; and "Place of employment" means the plant or premises in or about which an employee is permitted to work; and "Department" means the Oklahoma Department of Labor; and "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Labor; and "Division" means the Health and Safety Education and Training Division; and "Standard" has the same meaning as, and includes, the words "regulation", "code", and "rule"; and "National consensus standards" means any occupational safety or health standard adopted under a consensus method by a nationally recognized standards-producing organization; and "Employment" includes all services for pay pursuant to a contract of hire except service in agricultural employment.

The OSHA general duty clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, requires that each employer furnish to each of its employees a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. PEOSH defines the General Duty Clause as Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees, commensurate with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Its intent is identical to federal OSHA.

PEOSH incorporate all of federal OSHA's standards found under 29 CFR 1904, 1910, 1926 and other applicable consensus standards found within general industry.

eTools for Developing Customized Programs https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/sampleprograms.html#OSHA

For all Public Sector employers, except those within the Department of Education, Safety and Health Training must be conducted four time per year. For those within the Department of Education, you are required to conduct Safety and Health Training three times per year. For all new hires, initial training must be conducted within ten days of hire or arrangements made for such. Additional training ca be conducted if needed. For all Private Sector employers, Safety and Health Training must be conducted no less than once per year. For all new hires, initial training must be conducted within ten days of hire or arrangements made for such. Additional training ca be conducted if needed.

Inspectors representing the Oklahoma Department of Labor PEOSH unit have several reasons to be at your worksites. These include: complaint investigations, fatality investigations, consultations requested by your agency, follow-up visits and targeted compliance inspections.