OSHA General Industry Safety (US federal)
A list of checks and obligations with their cadence, ready to add to your agenda.
For US employers subject to OSHA General Industry standards (29 CFR 1910) and injury recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904): hazard communication, PPE, lockout/tagout, respiratory protection, noise, powered industrial trucks, overhead cranes, the injury log and emergency planning. It does not cover construction (1926), agriculture, maritime, substance-specific standards such as lead, asbestos and silica, or fire protection systems, which have their own kit. Note: 22 states and territories run their own OSHA-approved State Plan, which must be at least as effective and is often stricter, and local rules may add further duties.
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- 15 planned checks, the most frequent every year by 1 February
Planned checks
Informative summary verified on 12/09/2026. It does not replace legal advice: the regulation cited prevails. If you spot an error, report it.
Some checks are only mandatory in certain countries: pick yours and the list follows.
In Italy this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In France this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Germany this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Switzerland this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Austria this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In United Kingdom this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Spain this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Portugal this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
- 01
Re-evaluate powered industrial truck operators every three years
The employer must evaluate each powered industrial truck operator's performance at least once every 36 months, through a practical evaluation on the floor rather than a classroom course. Refresher training is also required after accidents, near misses, unsafe operation, a change of truck or a change in workplace conditions; proof is the certification giving the operator's name, the date and the evaluator. Applies to every site using forklifts, rider pallet trucks and other powered industrial trucks.
every 36 months since the last inspectionLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 02
Activate emergency eyewash and shower units weekly
The ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 consensus standard has maintenance staff activate emergency showers and eyewashes every week to verify flow and flush the supply line, plus a full annual conformance inspection against the installation requirements; proof is the activation tag or log and the annual report. OSHA, at 29 CFR 1910.151(c), only requires suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body within the work area. Applies to workplaces where the eyes or body may be exposed to corrosive materials. Cadence to be confirmed on the cited source.
- 03
Inspect fall protection systems before each workshift
Harnesses, lanyards, energy absorbers and self-retracting lifelines must be inspected before initial use during each workshift for mildew, wear, damage and other deterioration; defective components are removed from service at once and do not go back into use until they are replaced. The employer is the duty holder; the inspection is done by the worker about to put the equipment on, trained to spot the defects. A register with serial numbers and in-service dates is not required by this paragraph, but it is the only way to know which item was withdrawn and when.
continuous checkLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.140(c)(18)United States onlySourceverified on 12/09/2026 - 04
Post the annual injury summary (Form 300A) from February 1
By February 1 the employer must review the OSHA 300 log, complete the 300A summary, have a company executive certify it and post it where employees can see it, keeping it posted until April 30. The 300, 300A and 301 records are kept for five years after the year they cover, and State Plan states may use their own equivalent forms. Applies to employers with a recordkeeping duty: those with ten or fewer employees throughout the previous year and the low-hazard industries listed in Appendix A to 1904 subpart B are exempt.
every year by 1 FebruaryLegal obligation29 CFR 1904.32(b)(6)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 05
Train employees annually on fire extinguisher use
Where the employer provides portable fire extinguishers for employee use, it must run an educational programme on the general principles of extinguisher use and the hazards of incipient stage firefighting, upon initial employment and at least once every 12 months; proof is the training record. The rule is about people, not equipment: the monthly visual check, annual maintenance and 5 or 12 year hydrostatic test are already covered by the extinguisher preset. Applies to employers that make extinguishers available to employees: those with a total evacuation plan meeting 1910.157(b)(1) that does not allow their use are exempt.
every 12 months since the last jobLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1), (g)(2)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 06
Carry out the annual audiogram for noise-exposed employees
For every employee exposed at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA the employer must obtain an audiogram every 12 months, compared with the baseline established within six months of first exposure, and provide annual training on noise and hearing protectors. Exposure measurements are kept for 2 years and audiometric records for the duration of employment, and a confirmed Standard Threshold Shift must be entered on the 300 log where it is work-related. Applies only to employees exposed at or above the 85 dBA 8-hour TWA action level: monitoring must be repeated whenever machinery, processes or hearing protectors change.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6), (g)(5), (k)(2)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 07
Repeat the annual respirator fit test
Every employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator must be fit tested before first use, whenever the facepiece changes and at least once every 12 months; the medical evaluation precedes the fit test and training is repeated annually. Proof is the fit test record, the medical clearance and the written programme; respirators kept for emergency use must additionally be inspected at least monthly and before and after each use. Applies to employers that require respirator use: voluntary use of filtering facepieces only calls for handing out Appendix D.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2), (e)(1), (k)(5)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 08
Schedule frequent and periodic overhead crane inspections
Overhead and gantry cranes require frequent inspections at daily to monthly intervals and periodic inspections at 1 to 12 month intervals depending on activity and severity of service, plus a certified monthly inspection of running ropes. Findings must be recorded with date, signature and rope or machine identifier; the 12 months set here is the legal maximum and must be shortened for heavily used machines. Applies to overhead and fixed gantry cranes: mobile cranes and slings follow different standards, 1910.180 and 1910.184 with inspection before each use.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.179(j)(1)(ii), (j)(2), (j)(3), (j)(4), (m)(2)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 09
Examine powered industrial trucks before each use
A powered industrial truck must be examined before being placed in service, at least daily, and must not be used if the examination shows any condition affecting safety; where trucks run across several shifts the check is repeated after each shift change. OSHA does not require a written record, but the daily checklist is the practical proof during an inspection. Applies to every powered industrial truck in service.
- 10
Electronically submit injury data by March 2
Covered establishments must upload their injury and illness record data to OSHA's Injury Tracking Application by March 2 of the year following the year covered; proof is the submission confirmation. Part-time, seasonal and temporary workers count towards the thresholds. Applies to establishments with 250 or more employees that must keep records and to those with 20-249 employees in the industries listed in Appendix A to 1904 subpart E, for Form 300A only; establishments with 100 or more employees in the high-hazard industries of Appendix B must also submit Forms 300 and 301.
every year by 2 MarchLegal obligation29 CFR 1904.41(a), (b)(1)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 11
Perform the annual periodic inspection of lockout/tagout procedures
At least annually an authorized employee other than the one using the procedure must inspect each energy control procedure, correct deviations and certify in writing the machine, the date, the employees included and the inspector's name. The inspection covers every single procedure, not one per company, and any deficiency found triggers retraining; with tagout systems the review must also include the affected employees. Applies to employers whose servicing or maintenance work exposes people to hazardous energy, whether electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical or thermal.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 12
Formal annual inspection by a competent person
Beyond the pre-shift check, US practice calls for a formal inspection of every piece of fall protection equipment at least once a year, carried out by a competent person other than the user and documented item by item. The full requirement comes from the voluntary ANSI/ASSP Z359.2 standard, not directly from OSHA: here it is a recommendation, and it becomes binding where the manufacturer prescribes it in the instructions or the client imposes it by contract. The employer arranges it; the result is filed with the equipment register.
every 12 months since the last inspectionRecommendedANSI/ASSP Z359.2; ANSI/ASSP Z359.11United States only - 13
Maintain the HazCom program and accessible Safety Data Sheets
The employer must keep a written hazard communication programme, hold a Safety Data Sheet for every hazardous chemical on site and make it readily accessible to employees on their shift, label containers, and train staff at initial assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced. The standard requires no periodic refresher training: the annual check proposed here verifies that the SDS file and the chemical inventory match. Applies to every workplace where hazardous chemicals are present, including cleaning and maintenance products, except for consumer products used as a consumer would.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.1200(e), (g), (h)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 14
Maintain and rehearse the Emergency Action Plan
Where required, the employer must keep a written emergency action plan covering evacuation procedures, the alarm system, headcount and assigned roles, keep it available to employees, and train designated employees at initial assignment, when their duties change and whenever the plan changes. OSHA sets no fixed drill frequency or annual review for general industry, as those come from NFPA 101 and local fire codes: the annual check proposed here is good practice. Applies where a written plan is required by another OSHA standard, for example 1910.157(b)(1), 1910.119 or 1910.120; employers with ten or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally, and trained first-aid personnel are also needed where no infirmary or hospital is in near proximity.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.38; 29 CFR 1910.39 (fire prevention plan); 29 CFR 1910.151 (first aid)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 15
Keep the PPE hazard assessment current
The employer must assess the workplace for hazards requiring PPE, select suitable equipment and verify that it properly fits each affected employee, certifying in writing the workplace evaluated, who performed the assessment and the date. The assessment and the training must be redone when processes, equipment or PPE change, or when gaps in knowledge appear: 29 CFR 1910.132 sets no numeric cadence and the annual check proposed here is good practice. Applies to all general industry employers.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligation29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1), (d)(1)(iii), (d)(2), (f)(1), (f)(3)United States onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
In Other country this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
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