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Public Sector Workplace Safety & Health
The Maine Department of Labor enforces occupational safety and health regulations in public sector workplaces, including: state, county and municipal workplaces; public schools, colleges and universities; and quasi-government agencies such as water districts.
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The Maine Department of Labor is reviewing the Standard and will update this page as additional information becomes available. For Private Sector Employers: The OSHA standard applies to private sector employers. Information relating to private employers can be found here: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2 For Public Sector Employers: Under longstanding State law and a 2015 agreement with the Federal government, known as a “state plan,” Maine is required to adopt and enforce for public employers all of OSHAs occupational safety and health standards. Maine is one of 26 states and two territories to have a state plan agreement with the Federal government. As a result, the Maine Board of Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) will review the Standard and adopt emergency rules that, at a minimum, extend the same requirements to Maine’s public employers. BOSH is typically required to adopt and enforce for public employers OSHA’s standards within 30 days of the standard’s release. OSHA’s standards are considered minimum requirements, so states may implement more rigorous standards but cannot implement less rigorous standards than those set out by OSHA. The State’s emergency rules will be in effect for 90 days after adoption. Immediately following the adoption of the emergency State rules, the BOSH will begin the rulemaking process for permanent rules. This rulemaking process will include the opportunity for public comment. Past related announcements What is the Maine Board of Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) The Maine Board of Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) is a ten member board of Maine residents, appointed by the Governor to staggered four year terms, that is charged with formulating, adopting, and enforcing occupational safety and health standards for the public sector that, at a minimum, conform to Federal standards. BOSH is also charged with holding adjudicatory hearings for labor standard violations, in which BOSH will issue a decision approving, disapproving, or modifying a citation or penalty levied by the Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Standards. BOSH is required to meet twice per year, but its practice has been to meet quarterly. More information about BOSH: Duties and Powers of BOSH (PDF) Upcoming BOSH Meetings 2023 Schedule
All meetings start at 10:00 AM BOSH Work Rules Ch. 1 Procedural Rules (Word) Ch. 2 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry Employment in the Public Sector (Word) Ch. 3 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction Industry Employment in the Public Sector (Word) Ch. 4 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Firefighting in the Public Sector (Word) Ch. 5 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Public Safety Diving (Word) Ch. 6 Recording Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in the Public Sector (Word) Ch. 7 Minimum Driver Training Requirements for Fire Apparatus (Word) Ch. 8 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Whistleblower/Discrimination in the Public Sector (Word) Ch. 9 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Issuing Variances in the Public Sector (Word) Ch. 10 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Section 1908 Consultation Guidelines in the Public Sector (Word) Safety and Health Public safety and health rules are developed by the Maine Board of Occupational Safety and Health. They generally follow but are not necessarily identical to OSHA regulations covering private sector employers. Emergency Notification - (207) 592-4501 or accident.bls@maine.gov: Public sector employers are required to report all work related fatalities, or injuries or illnesses where one or more public sector employees is admitted to a medical facility. Statute for fatality and injury reporting criteria. Field Operations Manual (PDF)
BLS Focused Inspection List (PDF) Whistleblower (PDF) BOSH remote policy (PDF) Inspections The Maine Department of Labor conducts workplace inspections of public sector worksites. Under state law, Maine Department of Labor Public Sector Enforcement Officers may enter a workplace to examine conditions that may affect the safety or health of employees. Maine public sector workplaces can get free, voluntary, non-enforcement safety and health training or consultation from SafetyWorks! If you are an employee of a state agency, county government, a municipality, or any division thereof, a water district, sewer district, school district or any other quasi-municipal agency and want to report a safety or health violation, or believes the employer has discriminated or retaliated against you for reporting an unsafe condition, please visit the Complaint Form web page. 2021
Emergency Notification Requirement: Public sector employers are required to report all work related fatalities, or injuries or illnesses where one or more public sector employees is admitted to a medical facility.
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