Which OSHA Standards Apply?

Many employers have questions regarding which Occupational Safety and Health standards apply to them. For this reason, the OSH Division has put together information that will help the employer determine which standards apply to them as it pertains to recordkeeping, general industry, construction, agriculture, shipyard employment (public sector) and marine terminals (public sector). This includes North Carolina state-specific standards. Note: The OSH Division does not have enforcement jurisdiction for the longshoring standards.

North Carolina is an OSHA-approved State Plan that covers both private and state and local government workers. With certain exceptions, the N.C. Department of Labor adopts federal OSHA standards verbatim. Standards information and activity provides the status of the OSH Division's adoption of federal standards and compliance dates. When OSH Administrative rules differ from federal OSHA standards, employers must comply with the state-specific rules (identified in the tab below).

The OSH Division enforcement procedures provide guidance to compliance personnel, to ensure responsibilities related to enforcement of the OSHA standards are carried out in an effective, efficient and consistent manner. Some of the guidance documents are federal documents that have been adopted for use in N.C. while others have been created specifically for N.C. To learn more about the inspection process, go to the compliance inspection process webpage. 

Which OSHA Standards Apply?

Tab/Accordion Items

All employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) are covered by Recordkeeping standards. However, many employers do not have to keep OSHA injury and illness records unless OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) informs them in writing that they must keep records. Note: The following exemptions do not apply to Public Sector employers in North Carolina. Reference NCGS 95-148, Operational Procedure Notice 128 and Standards Notice 75

Subpart B provides the Scope and is as follows:.

To identify the specific standards within Part 1904 that apply to you, go to the Recordkeeping Standards webpage. Additional information on recordkeeping requirements can also be found on the A-Z safety and health topics page for Recording and Reporting.

29 CFR Part 1910 General Industry standards apply to all places of employment in general industry. To identify the specific standards within Part 1910 that apply to you, go to the General Industry Standards webpage.

OSHA uses the term "general industry" to refer to all industries not included in agriculture, construction or maritime. General industries are regulated by OSHA's general industry standards, directives, and standard interpretations.

Note: Many employers may need to comply with both general industry standards and construction standards depending on the work that is being performed.

29 CFR Part 1915 Shipyard Employment standards include the building, repairing, and breaking (scrapping, disposal, recycling) of vessels, or a section of a vessel, without regard to geographical location. It also involves work activities aboard floating vessels as well as vessel-related work activities on the land, docks, piers, and other areas of a shipyard. To identify the specific standards within Part 1915 that apply to you, go to the Shipyard Employment Standards webpage.

Shipbuilding means the construction of a vessel including the installation of machinery and equipment.

Shipbreaking means any breaking down of a vessel's structure for the purpose of scrapping the vessel, including the removal of gear, equipment or any component part of a vessel.

Related employment means any employment performed as an incident to or in conjunction with ship repairing, shipbuilding or shipbreaking work, including, but not restricted to, inspection, testing, and employment as a watchman.

Although 29 CFR Part 1915 covers many hazards in shipyard employment, it does not cover all hazards. Therefore, some of the 29 CFR Part 1910 General Industry standards may also be applicable in shipyard employment.

In North Carolina, the OSH Division has authority over public sector shipyard employment activities on inspected vessels if the work is performed by public sector shipyard employees (non-crew members). The U.S. Coast Guard regulates working conditions for seamen (crew members) on inspected vessels while Federal OSHA has authority to cite private sector shipyard employment activities on inspected vessels if the work is performed by shipyard employees (non-crew members).

 

Note: An inspected vessel is any ship, boat, barge, etc., that has or is required to have a Certificate of Inspection (COI) issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

On uninspected vessels, the OSH Division has authority to cite public sector shipyard employers for all working conditions. The OSH Division can also cite the owners or operators of uninspected vessels for violations involving shipbuilding, shipbreaking, and ship repair operations regardless of whether the work is performed by seamen (crew members) or by non-crew members unless the hazards are covered by U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

Field Operations Manual Chapter 18 - Maritime Inspection Procedures provides compliance guidance and reference documents specific to maritime inspections conducted by the OSH Division. 

 

Note: Some activities within a shipyard may also be covered under 29 CFR Part 1926 Construction standards if considered Construction work.

29 CFR Part 1917 - Marine Terminals standards apply to all marine terminals. To identify the specific standards within Part 1917 that apply to you, go to the Marine Terminals Standards webpage.

Marine terminal means wharves, bulkheads, quays, piers, docks and other berthing locations and adjacent storage or adjacent areas and structures associated with the primary movement of cargo or materials from vessel to shore or shore to vessel including structures which are devoted to receiving, handling, holding, consolidating and loading or delivery of waterborne shipments or passengers, including areas devoted to the maintenance of the terminal or equipment. The term does not include production or manufacturing areas nor does the term include storage facilities directly associated with those production or manufacturing areas. 

Although 29 CFR Part 1917 covers many hazards at marine terminals, it does not cover all hazards. Therefore, some of the 29 CFR Part 1910 General Industry Standards (Reference Scope and Applicability) may also be applicable at marine terminals.

In North Carolina, the OSH Division has authority to cite employers engaged in public sector marine terminal operations. The U.S. Coast Guard regulations do not preempt the OSH Division from citing these employers, however on inspected vessels, the OSH Division has no authority to cite the owner or operator of the vessel with respect to any working conditions of seamen (crew members), regardless of the work they are performing.

Field Operations Manual Chapter 18 - Maritime Inspection Procedures provides compliance guidance and reference documents specific to maritime inspections conducted by the OSH Division. 

29 CFR Part 1926 Construction standards apply to all places of employment where employees are engaged in "construction work". OSHA defines construction work as construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating. 

Field Operations Manual Chapter 12 - Construction provides compliance guidance and reference documents specific to construction inspections conducted by the OSH Division. 

To identify the specific standards within Part 1926 that apply to you, go to the Construction Standards webpage.

Note: Many employers may need to comply with both general industry standards and construction standards depending on the work that is being performed.

29 CFR Part 1928 Agriculture standards apply to all agricultural operations. Additionally, some 29 CFR Part 1910 General Industry standards also apply to agricultural operations. To identify the specific standards within Part 1928 that apply to you, go to the Agriculture Standards webpage.

Field Operations Manual Chapter 11 - Agricultural Safety and Health Inspection Procedures provides compliance guidance and reference documents specific to agricultural inspections conducted by the OSH Division. 

The agricultural safety and health bureau enforces the OSHA standards in NC. They also enforce the Migrant Housing Act. More information can be found on the Agricultural Safety and Health webpage.

 

The North Carolina state-specific standards apply to all places of employment in North Carolina. With certain exceptions, the N.C. Department of Labor adopts federal OSHA standards verbatim. When OSH Administrative rules differ from federal OSHA standards, employers must comply with the state-specific rules.

To identify which standards that apply to you, go to the North Carolina State-Specific Standards webpage.