To help explain OSHA standards in New Jersey, we are going to go over New Jersey’s state plan, OSHA’s training recommendations, the different types of OSHA New Jersey training, and why training is so important in every industry.
Occupational Safety and Health Jurisdiction in New Jersey
New Jersey is one of 26 states (and 2 U.S. territories) to have an official state plan. The New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) State Plan covers the agencies and authorities of state, county, and local governments, along with school districts and fire departments (paid and volunteer).
PEOSH identically adopted all relevant OSHA standards with the following exceptions:
- PEOSH Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200 / NJAC 12:100-7) builds onto the federal standard.
- PEOSH Standards for Firefighters (NJAC 12:100-8) replaces 29 CFR 1910 Subpart L.
The New Jersey plan also allows them to introduce standards that don't have an applicable federal standard, like:
- Indoor Air Quality Standard (NJAC 12:100-13) sets air quality standards for buildings occupied by public employees.
- Indoor Firing Ranges Standard (NJAC 12:100-8) protects people using and maintaining state, county, and municipal gun ranges from exposure to lead and noise.
Public sector enforcement is a little complicated in New Jersey:
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDLWD) investigates complaints regarding safety hazards. They also administer and enforce the act.
- New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) investigates complaints regarding health hazards. They have enforcement responsibility for the Indoor Air Quality Standard.
- Office of Public Workers' Occupational Safety and Health (OPEOSH), under the NJDLWD, conducts general and targeted inspections to ensure workplace safety.
Since New Jersey's state plan doesn't cover the private sector, that's still under federal OSHA's jurisdiction. Federal government workers also remain under federal OSHA, including the U.S. Postal Service and any civilian employees that work on military bases.
OSHA New Jersey Training Requirements
New Jersey's state plan means there are two separate standards and four agencies to parse out for workers in the state, but for the most part, training rules are the same.
Public employees may need additional training based on PEOSH-only standards, but they also need the training required by federal OSHA standards that PEOSH adopted as-is.
Everyone under federal jurisdiction only needs to worry about the specific safety standards for which OSHA requires training.
OSHA New Jersey 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.
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Benefits of OSHA New Jersey Training for Workers
While the primary and most important benefit of OSHA training will always be to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities, employers can also benefit from an investment in OSHA training. When your business requires safety training for all their employees they can avoid OSHA noncompliance penalties, lower their workers’ compensation costs, and increase workplace productivity.
It’s easy to say that workplace safety training will keep employees safe, but once you look at the below statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other New Jersey agencies, there will be no doubt in your mind.
Fatal Occupational Injuries in New Jersey
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 69 fatal occupational injuries in New Jersey in 2017, while nationally there were 5,147 fatal occupational injuries.
Of the 69 fatalities:
- 25 were the result of transportation incidents
- 12 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
- 10 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
- 10 were the result of exposure to harmful substances or environments
- 9 were the result of contact with objects and equipment
- 3 were the result of fires and explosions
The industries with the most fatalities included:
- 14 in construction
- 11 in transportation and warehousing
- 11 in administrative and waste services
- 7 in government (4 in local, 1 in state, 2 in federal)
- 5 in leisure and hospitality
Construction-Related Fatal Occupational Injuries
In 2016, there were 20 fatal occupational injuries within private construction. That included:
- 5 in the construction of buildings (3 of them in residential building construction)
- 5 building equipment contractors
- 5 building finishing contractors
- 3 foundation/structure/building exterior contractors
- 2 other specialty trade contractors
Among 19 fatalities in the construction and extraction occupations, there were:
- 6 first-line supervisors of construction and extraction workers
- 11 construction trades workers (including 4 construction laborers)
- 1 elevator installer/repairer
- 1 rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator
2019 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in New Jersey
All workers in New Jersey, especially those in construction, are at a risk of loss from injuries and accidents. However, they’re not the only ones; New Jersey businesses can also use OSHA training to reduce their risk of noncompliance penalties.
While OSHA lists their top enforcement cases by state on their website, for your convenience, here are the top cases from the second half of 2019.
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State | Inspection Number | Employer | City | Issuance Date | Initial Penalty |
NJ | 1392221.015 | Rich Products Corporation | VINELAND | 09/25/2019 | $291,735.00 |
NJ | 1392282.015 | Rich Products Corporation | VINELAND | 09/25/2019 | $79,184.00 |
NJ | 1393384.015 | Aruvil International, Inc. | PENNSAUKEN | 09/27/2019 | $370,298.00 |
NJ | 1371253.015 | Schweid & Sons | CARLSTADT | 06/03/2019 | $47,736.00 |
NJ | 1377304.015 | Rafael Holdings, Inc. | NEWARK | 07/12/2019 | $127,294.00 |
NJ | 1397872.015 | Pumma Construction, Inc. | LAKEWOOD | 07/10/2019 | $49,177.00 |
NJ | 1389564.015 | Europa Associates Corp | JERSEY CITY | 07/18/2019 | $157,528.00 |
NJ | 1417077.015 | Rockaway Township Senior Center | ROCKAWAY | 07/26/2019 | $41,400.00 |
NJ | 1385559.015 | Universal Protein Supplements Corporation | NEW BRUNSWICK | 08/22/2019 | $53,806.00 |
NJ | 1397879.015 | EG Munoz Construction, LLC | NEWARK | 09/05/2019 | $116,688.00 |
NJ | 1387011.015 | Amerinox Processing, Inc. | CAMDEN | 09/16/2019 | $43,299.00 |
Federal and State OSHA Offices in New Jersey
Since New Jersey employers and workers are divided up into federal and state jurisdiction, there are separate local area offices for state and federal OSHA.
You need to contact a federal office if you're in the private sector, a federal agency, a military facility, a workplace with Indian sovereignty, the U.S. Postal Service, or a maritime employer (e.g. shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring).
There are four local area offices for federal OSHA in New Jersey:
- Avenel
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Marlton
- Parsippany
The Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) office is in Trenton. They are your point of contact if you work in the public sector, including state, county, or local government agencies, public authorities, fire departments, and school districts.
If you need to contact either state or federal offices, you can find their contact information on the federal OSHA website.
Additional New Jersey Resources for Safety Information
In addition to the information we have provided, you can visit New Jersey state agency websites for more information on safety resources.
New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development: This state agency includes a wide variety of support and services for both employees and employers, including leave and disability claims, workers’ compensation, employer posters, and much more.
New Jersey Department of Health: Here you’ll find more detailed information about New Jersey’s workplace health and safety programs.
Enroll Now in New Jersey OSHA Training Courses
Now that you understand the importance of OSHA New Jersey training for employees in New Jersey, all you have left to do is select your training course. Luckily for you, you don’t have to look too far to find a qualified training provider.
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.
The best part of our training courses is that they’re completely online and available whenever you need. Sign up for yours today!