16 federal and 6 state-level entries — original plain-language summaries of common duties, each with a citation pointer so you can pull the official text.
Copyright red line: no regulation or standard text is reproduced — these are original paraphrases. Always verify against the current official text for your jurisdiction.
22 of 22 entries
OSH Act §5(a)(1)
Employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious harm. This clause is typically cited when no specific standard applies: the hazard must be recognized by the employer or common to the industry. Inspectors often use it as the catch-all reference during walkthroughs.
29 CFR 1904
Most employers must record recordable injuries and illnesses in the OSHA 300 log, post the 300A annual summary from February 1 to April 30, and submit electronic data (with industry/size exemptions). During inspections, check that the log is current and the posting window was met.
29 CFR 1910.22
Workrooms must be kept clean, orderly, and dry; aisles and passageways must stay clear and unobstructed. This is the primary basis for the "aisles / floors / storage" items in walkthrough checklists.
29 CFR 1910.36–.37
Exit routes must be permanently marked, unobstructed, and adequately lighted; exit doors must not be locked or blocked; route maps must be visible to employees. This backs the "exit clearance / signage" walkthrough items.
29 CFR 1910.151
Where no infirmary or clinic is in near proximity, trained first-aid personnel and supplies must be available. Where employees' bodies may be exposed to corrosive materials, suitable eyewash/drenching facilities must be in the work area — commonly paired with weekly flush-test practice.
29 CFR 1910.157
Extinguishers must be provided based on the hazard, visually inspected roughly monthly, and receive annual maintenance — with the inspection record kept on the tag or label. Check the gauge, pin and seal, inspection tag, and reachability during walkthroughs.
29 CFR 1910.147
Machines serviced or maintained must be covered by a written energy-control program, with locks provided and authorized employees trained. Verify program documents, the annual audit, and lock usage in the field.
29 CFR 1910.146
Entering confined spaces with atmospheric, engulfment, or configuration hazards requires a written program, a permit system, atmospheric testing, and rescue arrangements. Check archived permits and entry signage.
29 CFR 1910.134
Respirator use requires a written program, medical evaluation, fit testing, and a cartridge-change schedule. Check fit-test records and storage condition.
29 CFR 1910.212
Machine guarding must protect operators from point-of-operation hazards and rotating/moving parts. This is the basis for the "guards in place" walkthrough item.
29 CFR 1910.303–.308
Electrical equipment must be installed and maintained properly; panels need clear working space and labeling; flexible cords must not be used as permanent wiring. Check panel clearance and power-strip misuse during walkthroughs.
29 CFR 1910.1200
Workplaces with hazardous chemicals need a written HazCom program, a chemical inventory, accessible SDSs, and GHS labels. Check SDS availability and secondary-container labeling.
29 CFR 1910.178
Forklifts must be examined before each shift, and unsafe trucks removed from service; operators must be trained and certified with periodic refreshers. Check daily examination sheets and operator certificates.
29 CFR 1926.501
Construction work at heights of 6 feet or more requires guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems; fall-protection gear must be inspected before use. Ties into the fall-protection equipment reminder.
29 CFR 1926.451
Scaffolds must be erected by a qualified person, fully planked, guardrailed, and accessed safely — and inspected by a competent person before use.
29 CFR 1926.1053
Ladders must be inspected before use and damaged ladders removed; ladders must support the expected load and be set up at proper angle and side-rail extension. Basis for the "ladder condition" walkthrough item.
29 CFR 1902 (State Plans)
About half of the states run their own OSHA-approved State Plans. Private-sector plan states impose requirements at least as effective as federal OSHA (often stricter); elsewhere federal OSHA covers private employers directly. A separate group of states covers only public-sector employees. First confirm which category your state falls in, then look up the corresponding duties.
8 CCR §3203 (California)
Nearly all California employers must maintain a written IIPP covering hazard identification, periodic inspections, correction mechanisms, training, and communication. This is the umbrella document California walkthroughs usually start from.
8 CCR §14300 (California)
California maintains a state-level recordkeeping requirement that runs parallel to the federal OSHA 300 log, with some differing deadlines. California employers must satisfy both.
WAC 296 (Washington, WISHA)
Washington runs its own plan (WISHA) with an independently numbered rule set, some parts stricter than federal. In Washington, anchor inspections to WAC citations rather than CFR numbers.
NY PESH (New York)
New York operates a state plan for public employees (PESH), adopting federal standards plus state-specific requirements; the private sector remains under federal OSHA. Use the PESH frame when inspecting public facilities.
Texas (no private-sector State Plan)
Texas has no State Plan for the private sector — federal OSHA applies. Fire- and building-inspection duties largely flow from the fire code adopted by each municipality (commonly the IFC with local amendments). Check the city amendments first, then federal rules.