IaOSHA?
I have worked with Federal OSHA Compliance in Wisconsin for over thirty years. I have also been a General Industry OSHA Outreach Approved Instructor for a long time. In former lives I have extensive experience with MiOSHA (Michigan) and MnOSHA (Minnesota OSHA).
Recently, I have been contacted by an Iowa based manufacturer who would like my advice on a few things. I have been trying to research for information on IaOSHA? I have not found a lot. I looked at OSHA Citations under “Establishment Search” on OSHA.gov for Iowa based facilities. I was surprised that a large portion of the IaOSHA visits to these firms did not result in any citations. This was especially the case if the visit was due to a complaint. In the few citations I did find, a specific OSHA 1910 or 1926 standard was applied or Iowa’s Chapter 88 Occupational Health and Safety. You may download it at the following link:
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/88.pdf
This document has the font of my OSHA 1910 & 1926 books but is only 14 pages. Are there other Iowa H&S standards?
Later I read in an article that of the State Plans, Iowa is one of the most “employer-friendly”. Is that true?
Briefly, what are the major differences between Fed OSHA and IaOSHA? Any other advice on dealing with IaOSHA?
I will sure reciprocate with MiOSHA, MnOSHA, and OSHA information if needed.
Thanks! Fitz
Comments (9)
Aahh. The joys the state plan states. Unfortunately, my company doesn't operate in Iowa. There are ski areas there, but we don't own any of those.
My company deals with 14 different OSH agencies in North America alone. Luckily most state plans are similar enough to Fed OSHA that it is okay. If you don't find more info, sticking to 1910 or 1926 will work fine. The only states I have found that deviated from the Fed standards are California and Washington. The Midwest states that have their own plans have copied 1910 and 1926 verbatim.
Iowa OSHA follows federal OSHA for 99% of their regulations. See excerpt from the link below:
"875—10.20(88) Adoption by reference. The rules beginning at 1910.20 and continuing through 1910, as adopted by the United States Secretary of Labor shall be the rules for implementing Iowa Code chapter 88. This rule adopts the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standards of 29 CFR, Chapter XVII, Part 1910..."
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/chapter/875.10.pdf
Overall, there are some minor differences, some in recordkeeping, but the majority of 29 CFR 1910 is what is adopted for Iowa OSHA. For example, if an injury/illness causes a temporary or permanent disablement for 4 or more days, or a fatality, you have 4 days to report it to Iowa OSHA.
Construction industry is essentially the same, as well.