The Wyoming State Occupational Safety and Health Administration operates under an approved state plan agreement with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The state plan allows Wyoming to establish and enforce its own workplace safety and health regulations, as well as conduct inspections and investigations.
Under the Wyoming State Plan, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (WYOSH) is responsible for ensuring workplace safety and health for both public and private sector employers and employees in the state.
Key features of the Wyoming State OSHA program (WYOSH) include:
WYOSH has developed its own set of workplace safety and health regulations. These regulations cover a wide range of industries and workplaces and are designed to protect workers from hazards specific to Wyoming. The state standards may be comparable to federal OSHA standards but may have some unique requirements.
WYOSH conducts inspections of workplaces to ensure compliance with safety and health regulations. Inspections may be conducted in response to complaints, referrals, targeted inspections, or as part of programmed activities. When violations are identified, WYOSH may issue citations and penalties to employers who fail to address the identified hazards.
WYOSH offers free consultation services to assist employers in identifying and correcting workplace hazards. These services are confidential and separate from enforcement activities. Employers can request consultations to improve their safety and health management systems and receive guidance on compliance with regulations.
WYOSH provides training programs and educational resources to employers, employees, and safety professionals. These initiatives aim to increase awareness of workplace hazards, promote safe work practices, and enhance overall safety and health knowledge in Wyoming.
The Wyoming State Plan applies to private sector workplaces in the state with the exception of:
1. Employment within Yellowstone National Park
2. Jobs in the maritime industry, such as shipyard employment, marine terminals, and longshoring
3. Contract workers and contractors involved in United States Postal Service (USPS) mail operations
4. Employment at Warren Air Force Base
5. Jobs at the U.S. Department of Energy's Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserve in Casper
6. Employment at privately-owned hazardous waste disposal facilities designated as Superfund sites.
7. All working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers onboard aircraft in operation.
8. Enforcement with respect to contractor workers and contractor-operated facilities engaged in United States Postal Service (USPS) mail operations; and
9. All working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers onboard aircraft in operation.
Wyoming OSHA aligns with federal OSHA standards in most cases, with a few exceptions. Subpart A of 29 CFR Part 1910 and Subparts A and B of 29 CFR Part 1926 have been modified to reflect the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act. When new standards are introduced by the Secretary of Labor, Wyoming OSHA typically promulgates its own equivalent standards within six months.
Under the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act, Wyoming OSHA cannot implement standards that are stricter than the corresponding federal standards. However, it does have the authority to establish standards in cases where there are no corresponding federal OSHA standards.
