Workplace safety enforcement in America is not one system — it's 28. While federal OSHA covers most states, 21 states run their own OSHA-approved programs with their own inspectors, standards, and penalty structures. Using data from 55,035 inspections across 14,664 companies, we compare how these systems perform.
The Two OSHA Systems
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 allows states to operate their own workplace safety programs — called State Plans — as long as they are “at least as effective” as federal OSHA. Federal OSHA monitors and audits these plans through annual evaluations (Federal Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Reports, or FAMERs).
States by Total Violations
Larger states with more workers and more industrial activity naturally have more violations. Texas, California, and Florida consistently lead in raw violation counts.
| # | State | Violations | Inspections | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 22,198 | 21,988 | Federal |
| 2 | Florida | 16,658 | 16,477 | Federal |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 15,089 | 14,919 | Federal |
| 4 | Ohio | 14,630 | 14,452 | Federal |
| 5 | Georgia | 14,074 | 13,889 | Federal |
| 6 | Illinois | 13,352 | 13,178 | Federal |
| 7 | New York | 10,265 | 10,105 | Federal |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 9,507 | 9,343 | Federal |
| 9 | Missouri | 9,459 | 9,297 | Federal |
| 10 | Alabama | 9,274 | 9,143 | Federal |
| 11 | Colorado | 9,041 | 8,889 | Federal |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 8,495 | 8,339 | Federal |
| 13 | New Jersey | 8,457 | 8,299 | Federal |
| 14 | Louisiana | 8,425 | 8,275 | Federal |
| 15 | Arkansas | 7,992 | 7,842 | Federal |
States by Violation Rate
Violation rate — violations per inspection — is a better measure of enforcement intensity than raw counts. A higher rate means inspectors are finding more problems per visit, which can indicate either more thorough inspections or worse working conditions.
| # | State | Violations/Inspection | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 1.05 | State Plan |
| 2 | Wyoming | 1.05 | State Plan |
| 3 | District Of Columbia | 1.05 | Federal |
| 4 | Hawaii | 1.04 | State Plan |
| 5 | New Mexico | 1.04 | State Plan |
| 6 | Maine | 1.04 | Federal |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1.03 | Federal |
| 8 | Delaware | 1.03 | Federal |
| 9 | Nevada | 1.03 | State Plan |
| 10 | Montana | 1.03 | Federal |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1.03 | Federal |
| 12 | Utah | 1.03 | State Plan |
| 13 | Iowa | 1.03 | State Plan |
| 14 | Oregon | 1.03 | State Plan |
| 15 | Maryland | 1.03 | State Plan |
Notable State OSHA Programs
California (Cal/OSHA)
California operates the most extensive state OSHA program. Cal/OSHA enforces standards that often exceed federal requirements, including a comprehensive heat illness prevention standard (adopted years before federal OSHA proposed one), lower permissible exposure limits for many chemicals, and an aerosol transmissible diseases standard that proved critical during COVID-19.
Oregon OSHA
Oregon's program is known for its aggressive enforcement of heat and wildfire smoke standards — both adopted before any federal equivalent. Oregon was among the first states to issue emergency heat illness rules after the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome that killed dozens of workers.
Washington (L&I DOSH)
Washington's Division of Occupational Safety and Health operates one of the better-funded state programs. It has specific rules for agricultural worker safety, ergonomics (the only state with a comprehensive ergonomics rule after federal OSHA repealed its ergonomics standard in 2001), and outdoor heat exposure.
The Inspection Gap
Federal OSHA has approximately 1,850 inspectors responsible for more than 8 million worksites. At current staffing levels, it would take OSHA 165 years to inspect every workplace once. State Plan states collectively have about 1,300 inspectors, giving them a slightly better ratio in their jurisdictions — roughly one inspection every 108 years.
This means the vast majority of workplaces are never inspected unless a worker files a complaint, an accident occurs, or the employer is in a high-hazard industry targeted for planned inspections. Workers who know how to file complaints with OSHA effectively serve as the system's eyes and ears.
What This Means for Workers
Your workplace safety experience depends significantly on which state you work in. Workers in State Plan states generally have access to standards that exceed federal minimums. However, enforcement intensity varies widely even among state programs. Use our company search to check any employer's OSHA record regardless of which state you're in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a State OSHA Plan?
A State OSHA Plan is a state-run occupational safety and health program approved by federal OSHA. These states enforce their own standards (which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA) and conduct their own inspections. Twenty-one states and one territory operate complete State Plans covering both private and public sector workers, while six states cover only public sector employees.
Which states have their own OSHA programs?
Twenty-one states run their own OSHA-approved programs covering both private and public sector workers: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming. Six additional states run public-sector-only plans: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Virgin Islands.
How often does OSHA inspect workplaces?
Federal OSHA has approximately 1,850 inspectors for 8+ million worksites — enough to inspect each workplace roughly once every 165 years. State OSHA plans collectively have about 1,300 inspectors for their jurisdictions. Inspection rates vary enormously by state: some states inspect at 2-3x the federal average, while others barely inspect at all. Most inspections are triggered by complaints, accidents, or referrals rather than planned visits.
Are state OSHA plans stricter than federal OSHA?
By law, State Plans must be "at least as effective" as federal OSHA. In practice, some state plans are significantly stricter. California (Cal/OSHA) is widely considered the most stringent, with lower exposure limits for many chemicals, a comprehensive heat illness prevention standard, and higher penalties. Oregon and Washington also enforce standards that exceed federal requirements.
About This Data
State-level data from OSHA Enforcement Data (IMIS). State Plan information from OSHA's State Plans page and Federal Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Reports (FAMERs). Inspector staffing estimates from AFL-CIO “Death on the Job” annual report. See our methodology.