Employers and employees in North Carolina benefit from the state having its own State Plan. The North Carolina State Plan covers state and local government entities as well as most private sector businesses, all of which must comply with its rules and regulations.
The North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health (NC OSH) agency is responsible for enforcing workplace safety standards, conducting inspections, maintaining records, addressing complaints, requesting reports, and overseeing the implementation of site safety and health regulations.
While North Carolina follows most OSHA Standards and Regulations, it also enforces several state-specific standards, including:
Construction Industry Standards:
Communication Towers
Steel Erection
Blasting and Use of Explosives
Non-Ionizing Radiation
Personal Protective Equipment and Life-Saving Equipment
Bloodborne Pathogens
Agriculture Industry Standards:
Field Sanitation
General Industry Standards:
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
Communication Towers
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
Certain industries and operations remain under Federal OSHA Standards, such as:
Employment under Federal Regulations
U.S. Postal Service operations
Maritime industry activities
Railroad employment
Employment on Indian reservations
The American National Red Cross
Military bases
Contractors and employees working on federal contracts
Working conditions for aircraft cabin crew while on duty
Any other industries, hazards, or operations within federal jurisdiction
Most safety topics are covered in OSHA training, and NC OSH generally aligns with federal standards. OSHA requires employees to be trained on specific subjects. Since OSHA training courses include topics covered by NC OSH, it is recommended that employees complete OSHA 10 Hour and 30 Hour Construction training programs.
