New Hampshire is one of the states without an official state plan for occupational health and safety regulations. As a result, most private-sector employees in New Hampshire fall outside the scope of state-specific safety regulations and instead are governed by Federal OSHA standards.
All public-sector employees working for the state, local governments, and counties in New Hampshire fall under the jurisdiction of the Safety and Training Division of the New Hampshire Department of Labor. Additionally, in certain cases where OSHA regulations do not apply—such as within the private sector—Chapter 277 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes (RSA) governs workplace safety.
Since most employers in New Hampshire require their employees to be well-informed about key Occupational Safety and Health topics, OSHA recommends the 10-Hour course for entry-level workers and the 30-Hour course for those in supervisory positions. Furthermore, under New Hampshire RSA 277:5-A, contractors involved in public works projects valued over $100,000 are legally required to complete the OSHA 10-Hour Construction course.
Also, RSA 277-A: Toxic Substances in the Workplace applies to public sector workers, ensuring that state and local government employees receive vital training on potential chemical hazards. While OSHA requires private sector employees to have appropriate chemical hazard training, this state law extends similar protections to public sector workers as well.
