OSHA Citations and Safety Manuals
Federal OSHA does not generally require every employer to maintain a single document called a “Safety Manual.” However, many OSHA standards require employers to maintain specific written programs, plans, procedures, and records when applicable workplace hazards are present.
Examples may include Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, Lockout/Tagout, Permit-Required Confined Spaces, Bloodborne Pathogens, Emergency Action Plans, and other hazard-specific programs. The programs required depend on the company’s operations, equipment, employee exposures, and applicable OSHA standards.
Missing Programs Can Lead to OSHA Citations
OSHA can issue citations when a required written program or procedure is missing, incomplete, or does not meet the applicable standard.
Having written policies alone is also not enough. Employers must implement applicable requirements through appropriate training, hazard controls, inspections, PPE, procedures, and other workplace practices.
Don’t wait for an OSHA inspection to discover that a required written program is missing. A properly developed safety manual can help organize the programs and procedures your company needs and provide a stronger foundation for workplace safety.
OSHA citations can result in significant penalties, particularly when multiple violations are identified or violations are classified as serious, repeated, or willful. The examples below illustrate actual citations involving missing or inadequate written safety programs. Reviewing applicable OSHA requirements before an inspection can help employers identify documentation gaps and correct deficiencies before they result in citations.
