Preface

In many cases, there seems to be confusion as to which situations in agriculture are subject tot he regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This may be due to the many instances when agriculture s given specific exemptions to the various standards. It is important to understand who is covered under current OSHA regulations and when. In general, the following situations exist.

NOTE: The following refers to the current status under federal OSHA regulations. There may be variations within a particular state in cases where a state OSHA exists. Check with your state OSHA organization for specifics on the regulations and their application within your state.

	Preface
	Isn't Agriculture exempt form OSHA Regulations? In many cases, there seems to be confusion as to which situations in agriculture are subject tot he regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This may be due to the many instances when agriculture s given specific exemptions to the various standards. It is important to understand who is covered under current OSHA regulations and when. In general, the following situations exist. NOTE: The following refers to the current status under federal OSHA regulations. There may be variations within a particular state in cases where a state OSHA exists. Check with your state OSHA organization for specifics on the regulations and their application within your state. Farmers and farm family members are exempt from all OSHA regulations. This may mean that a farm work site may not have proper safety equipment or practices in place. Farms employing 10 or fewer employees are not subject to the inspection, reporting, and enforcement provisions of the OSHA standards. However, while they ARE responsible for providing a safe work environment, they cannot be inspected and cited by an OSHA inspector. Additionally, farmers face significant liability exposure should a worker be injured on their farm. Outside contractors are responsible for following all applicable OSHA standards. Therefore, as an employee of a company providing a service to the farmer on the farm site (such as a silo equipment dealer, or a farm machinery dealer), you should be trained on how to follow all applicable guidelines and procedures. Your employer is also responsible for providing all necessary safety equipment to enable you to complete your job safely.