The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces safety standards on worksites involving multiple employers. When violations occur on such sites, OSHA’s enforcement procedures determine which employer(s) receive citations and bear responsibility for abatement. These procedures consider factors such as the type of employer presence (creating, exposing, correcting, or controlling), the employer’s role in creating or controlling hazards, and contractual relationships. For example, on a construction site, a general contractor might be cited for a hazard created by a subcontractor if the general contractor had overall responsibility for site safety.
Effective enforcement on multi-employer worksites is crucial for ensuring worker safety and health. Holding the appropriate employers accountable encourages proactive hazard identification and mitigation, ultimately reducing workplace incidents and fostering a culture of safety. Historically, OSHAs approach has evolved to address the complexities of shared responsibility on these worksites, leading to more refined guidance on identifying the responsible entities.
