Minnesota State Requirements

Minnesota OSHA State Plan: Safeguarding Workplace Health and Safety in Minnesota

Minnesota operates its own Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) state plan, known as Minnesota OSHA or MNOSHA. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) administers MNOSHA and is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of workers in the state.

MNOSHA's primary objective is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities by enforcing state and federal occupational safety and health standards. It adopts many of the regulations and standards set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) but also has the authority to establish its own unique standards, which must be at least as effective as the federal counterparts.

Under the MNOSHA state plan, employers in Minnesota are required to provide a safe and healthy work environment for their employees. This includes implementing safety programs, conducting regular workplace inspections, providing appropriate training, and maintaining records of workplace injuries and illnesses.

MNOSHA also offers various services to employers and employees, such as consultations, compliance assistance, and training programs. Employers can request a free consultation from MNOSHA to identify potential hazards in their workplace and receive guidance on compliance with safety regulations.

Coverage

With the exception of, the Minnesota State Plan extends its applicability to private-sector workplaces within the state.

1. Offshore maritime employment;

2. The enforcement of the field sanitation standard, 29 CFR 1928.110

3. The Minnesota State Plan covers private-sector workplaces in the state, except for establishments owned or operated by an Indian tribe or an enrolled member of an Indian tribe on Indian reservations or lands held in trust by the Federal Government. However, non-Indian businesses operating on reservations and trust lands fall under the jurisdiction of the state plan.

4. The Minnesota State Plan does not apply to contract employees and contractor-operated facilities involved in United States Postal Service mail operations.

5. All working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers onboard aircraft in operation.

Unique State Plan Standards

While MNOSHA has adopted the majority of OSHA standards by reference, the State Plan has also incorporated its own distinct standards, which may include, but are not limited to:

General Industry

• Personal Protective Equipment
• Walking, Working Surfaces
• Vent Pipe Outlets
• Indoor Ventilation and Temperature in Places of Employment
• Carbon Monoxide Monitoring
• Illumination
• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Ventilation for Garages
• Window Cleaning
• Machine Guarding
• Hazardous Substances
• Harmful Physical Agents
• Infectious Agents
• Safe Patient Handling
• A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) Program

Construction

• Demolition
• Spray Painting of Building Interiors
• Wire Rope Clips
• Walking, Working Surfaces
• Carbon Monoxide Monitoring
• Cranes, Hoists, and Derricks
• Warning Signs at Construction or Engineering Projects
• Sanitation
• Motorized Self-Propelled Vehicles
• Powered Industrial Trucks
• Servicing Multi-piece and Single Piece Rim Vehicles
• Operation of Mobile Earth-Moving Equipment
• Elevating Work Platform Equipment
• Hazardous Substances
• Harmful Physical Agents
• Infectious Agents
• A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) Program