Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Law Poster

Job Safety and
Health Protection
THE VIRGINIA OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (VOSH) LAW, BY AUTHORITY OF TITLE 40.1 OF THE LABOR LAWS OF
VIRGINIA, PROVIDES JOB SAFETY AND HEALTH PROTECTION FOR WORKERS. THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS TO ASSURE
SAFE AND HEALTHFUL WORKING CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE VIRGINIA SAFETY AND HEALTH CODES
BOARD PROMULGATES AND ADOPTS JOB SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS, AND EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE
REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THESE STANDARDS. THESE STANDARDS MAY BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING WEB
ADDRESS: https://doli.virginia.gov/regulatory_information/. YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
INDUSTRY OFFICES LISTED BELOW TO RECEIVE PRINTED COPIES OF THE VIRGINIA UNIQUE STANDARDS AND OBTAIN
THE NAMES OF PUBLISHERS OF THE FEDERAL IDENTICAL STANDARDS.

Employers
Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a
place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or are
likely to cause death or serious harm to his employees, and shall comply with
occupational safety and health standards issued under the law.

Employees
Each employee shall comply with all occupational safety and health
standards, rules, regulations and orders issued under the Law that apply to
his own actions and conduct on the job.

Inspection
The Law requires that a representative of the employer and a
representative authorized by the employees be given an opportunity to
accompany the VOSH inspector for the purpose of aiding the inspection.
Where there is no authorized employee representative, the VOSH inspector
must consult with a reasonable number of employees concerning safety and
health conditions in the workplace.

Citation

The VOSH citation must be prominently displayed at or near the place of
alleged violation for three days or until the violation is corrected, whichever is
later, to warn employees of dangers that may exist there.

Proposed Penalty
The Law provides for mandatory penalties against private sector employers of
up to $15,875 for each serious violation and for optional penalties of up to
$15,875 for each other–than–serious violation. Penalties of up to $15,875 per
day may be proposed for failure to correct violations within the proposed time
period. Also, any employer who willfully or repeatedly violates the Law may be
assessed penalties of up to $158,725 for each such violation.
Public Sector employers, all departments, agencies, institutions or other
political subdivisions of the Commonwealth, are subject to the penalty
provisions of 16VAC 25-60-260.
Criminal penalties are also provided for in the Law. Any willful violation
resulting in the death of an employee is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine
of not more than $70,000 or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or
by both. Subsequent conviction of an employer after a first conviction doubles
these maximum penalties.

Complaint
Employees or their representatives have the right to file a complaint with the
nearest VOSH office requesting an inspection if they believe unsafe or

Brookfield Place
6606 West Broad St, Suite 500
Richmond, Virginia 23230
VOICE (804) 371-2327
FAX (804) 371–6524

www.doli.virginia.gov
U.S. Department of Labor OSHA
Regional Administrator The Curtis
Center, STE 740 West 170 South
Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309
(215) 861-4900

Discrimination
It is illegal to retaliate against an employee for using any of their right under
the law, including raising a safety or health concern with the employer or
VOSH, or reporting a work-related injury or illness.
An employee who believes they have been discriminated against for
exercising their rights under the Law, may file a complaint with the
Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry within 60
days of the alleged discrimination.

CASPA
Complaints about State Plan Administration: Any person may complain to
the Regional Administrator of OSHA (address below) concerning the
Administration of the State Safety and Health Program.

State Coverage

If upon inspection VOSH believes an employer has violated the Law, a
citation alleging such violations will be issued to the employer. Each citation
will specify a time period within which the alleged violation must be corrected.

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRY

unhealthy conditions exist in their workplace. VOSH will withhold, on request,
names of employees filing complaints. Complaints may be made at the
Department of Labor and Industry addresses shown below.

The VOSH program shall apply to all public and private sector businesses in
the State except for Federal agencies, businesses under the Atomic Energy
Act, railroad rolling stock and tracks, certain Federal enclaves, and
businesses covered by the Federal Maritime jurisdiction.

Voluntary Activity
Voluntary efforts by the employer to assure its workplace is in compliance
with the Law are encouraged. Voluntary Safety and Health Consultation
and Training Programs exist to assist employers. These services may be
obtained by contacting the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
addresses

Recordkeeping
Employers now have a new system for tracking workplace injuries and
illnesses. OSHA’s new recordkeeping log (Form 300) is simpler to understand
and use. Using a question and answer format, the revised recordkeeping rule
provides guidance for recording occupational injuries and illnesses and
explains how to classify specific cases. Smaller employers (10 or fewer
employees) are exempt from most requirements. To see if your industry is
partially exempt, visit the OSHA Website at www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/
pub3169text.html.

Accident Reporting
All fatalities must be reported to VOSH within eight (8) hours. All injuries or
illnesses that result in an in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an
eye must be reported to VOSH within twenty-four (24) hours. Failure to report
may result in significant monetary penalties.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH OFFICE LOCATIONS
Headquarters
Brookfield Place
6606 West Broad Street, Suite
500 Richmond, Virginia 23230
(804) 371-2327

Northern Virginia/Manassas
9400 Innovation Drive, Suite 120,
Manassas, VA 20110.
(703) 392-0900

Abingdon
The Johnson Center
468 East Main Street,
Suite 114,
Abingdon, VA 24210
(276) 676-5465

Central Virginia/Richmond
North Run Business Park
1570 East Parham Road
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 371-3104

Tidewater/Norfolk
6363 Center Drive
Building 6, Suite 101
Norfolk, VA 23502
(757) 455-0891

Lynchburg
3704 Old Forest Road
Suite B
Lynchburg, VA 24501
(434) 385-0806

Southwest/Roanoke
Brammer Village
3013 Peters Creek Road
Roanoke, VA 24019
(540) 562-3580

Verona
P.O. Box 772
201 Lee Highway
Verona, VA 24482
(540) 248-9280

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRY

Gary G. Pan
Commissioner

VIRGINIA SAFETY AND HEALTH
CODES BOARD

EMPLOYERS: THIS POSTER MUST BE DISPLAYED IN A PROMINENT PLACE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT TO WHICH YOUR EMPLOYEES NORMALLY REPORT TO WORK.
Revised August 2024