Do state government agencies have to follow OSHAs rules?
Public employees are not normally covered by the OSH Act. However, states that run their own occupational safety and health programs are required to include public employees under their coverage. In these states, state government agencies are subject to OSHA’s rules [see Section 18 of the OSH Act]. Twenty-three states currently operate their own OSHA programs, and four—Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—operate plans to cover public employees only.
