Occupational Safety and Health Jurisdiction in Maryland
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) allows states to assume their own occupational safety and health responsibilities as long as they're "at least as effective" as the federal program.
Maryland has an official state plan that covers all state and local government workers in Maryland, as well as most private-sector workers.
It adopts all relevant federal OSHA standards by reference. In addition, Maryland adopted unique standards, including:
General Industry
- Prohibition on Smoking in an Indoor Place of Employment
- Standard for Confined Spaces
- Standard for Personnel Platforms Suspended from Cranes, Derricks and Hoists
- Tree Care and Removal
- Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde
Construction
- Fall Protection in Steel Erection
- Crane Safety
- Lead in Construction
- Excavations, Requirement for Protective Systems
Agriculture
- Standard for Field Sanitation
The Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) compliance unit enforces the standards with inspections, citations, and the investigation of complaints. It's housed under the Maryland Department of Labor.
A small number of Marylanders remain under federal OSHA jurisdiction, instead. Specifically:
- Federal employment
- The U.S. Postal Service plus private contractor-operated facilities engaged by USPS
- Maritime operations (ie, shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring)
- Private-sector employment on military bases
- Working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers onboard aircraft in operation
- Any hazard, industry, area, operation, or facility where the State Plan is unable to effectively exercise jurisdiction
OSHA Maryland Training Requirements
Since Maryland adopted most federal standards by reference, Marylanders will follow similar training requirements regardless of jurisdiction.
OSHA requires training on specific safety standards that apply to your job functions. The only time jurisdiction might impact training are the standards where Maryland adopted its own unique standard.
Federal OSHA also has Outreach courses (sometimes referred to as "DOL cards") that cover common requirements for your industry. Even though OSHA doesn't require OSHA Outreach training, some employers might. In that case, you’ll either need an OSHA 10-Hour course for entry-level workers or an OSHA 30-Hour course for supervisors.
Learn More About OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Courses for Marylanders
We offer OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry to meet your OSHA training needs.
Not sure where to start? Read our guide.
Read NowBenefits of OSHA Maryland Training for Workers
OSHA’s primary goal with their training courses has always been to reduce workplace injuries and accidents, but they’re not the only ones that can benefit from OSHA training. When Maryland employers invest in training, they can avoid OSHA inspection penalties, lower workers’ compensation costs, and increase productivity and financial performance.
Although we can say OSHA training will keep workers safe, it’s another thing entirely to see the statistics that prove it. Take a look at workplace injury statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other Maryland agencies.
Fatal Occupational Injuries in Maryland
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 80 fatal occupational injuries in Maryland in 2022, while nationally there were 5,486 fatal occupational injuries.
Of the 80 fatalities:
- 23 were the result of transportation incidents
- 22 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
- 10 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
- 9 were the result of exposure to harmful substances or environments
- 7 were the result of contact with objects and equipment
The industries with the greatest number of fatalities were:
- 16 in construction
- 12 in transportation and warehousing
- 11 in administrative and waste services
- 7 in local government
- 5 in manufacturing
2023 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in Maryland
No doubt you now understand that workers in Maryland, especially those in construction, are at a high risk for injuries and accidents. However, workers aren’t the only ones who will experience loss with the lack of safety training. When Maryland businesses invest in OSHA training they can reduce their risk of enforcement penalties from an OSHA inspection.
While OSHA lists the top enforcement cases by state on its website, to give you a quick idea of the hefty fines you could face, here are the top cases for 2023.
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State | Inspection Number | Employer | City | Issuance Date | Initial Penalty |
MD | 1682932.015 | Precoat Mezzanine LLC | ELKRIDGE | 10/23/2023 | $86,899.00 |
MD | 1686176.015 | MD Tree Experts Co. | BALTIMORE | 09/28/2023 | $78,350.00 |
MD | 1656266.015 | Erick and Chris Construction, LLC | GLEN BURNIE | 05/17/2023 | $40,400.00 |
MD | 1638835.015 | Techflow Mission Support, LLC | PATUXENT RIVER | 05/11/2023 | $42,666.00 |
MD | 1652376.015 | V.L.C. Construction Inc. | BOWIE | 04/18/2023 | $146,000.00 |
MD | 1637361.015 | The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc. | HANOVER | 03/06/2023 | $73,550.00 |
MD | 1634941.015 | I-Tree Experts Co. | JOPPA | 02/02/2023 | $43,800.00 |
MD | 1631549.015 | Beverage Retailers LLC | FREDERICK | 01/30/2023 | $308,100.00 |
MD | 1634011.015 | Erick and Chris Construction, LLC | CAMBRIDGE | 01/24/2023 | $44,700.00 |
Federal and State OSHA Offices in Maryland
Since Maryland employers and workers are divided up into federal and state jurisdiction, there are separate local area offices for state and federal OSHA.
The federal OSHA office in Linthicum covers federal agencies, the USPS, private facilities contracted by USPS, military facilities, and maritime activities (e.g. shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring).
All other Marylanders should reach out to MOSH's state plan office in Hunt Valley.
You can find the most up-to-date contact information for either type of Maryland office on OSHA's website.
Additional Maryland Resources for Safety Information
In addition to the information we have provided, you can visit Maryland state agency websites for more information on safety resources.
Maryland Department of Labor: The department offers a wide variety of services to protect and empower Maryland employees and consumers.
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing: This division regulates programs and oversees licensing for professionals and businesses.
Division of Labor and Industry: This division handles a variety of programs to ensure the safety of Marylanders, including boiler and elevator safety, workplace safety and health, and employee wages and rights.
Enroll Now in OSHA Maryland Training Courses
While you now understand how OSHA Maryland training is critical to the safety and well-being of workers, you’re not quite done with your safety training journey yet! You still need to sign up for your appropriate course.
Luckily, you don’t have to look far! We have over 20 years of experience as an OSHA-authorized training provider, and we offer OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry to satisfy your OSHA training needs.
Simply select your training course and start learning today!