Contact information for the
State / Commonwealth of Virginia for Health, Safety and Labor
 Virginia
Department of Labor and Industry
Powers-Taylor Building
13 South 13th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-4101
C. Raymond Davenport, Commissioner
(804) 786-2377
(804) 371-6524 FAX
William Burge, Assistant Commissioner
(804) 371-2327
(804) 371-6524 FAX
Virginia State Plan Web Page
Department of
Labor and Industry
Occupational Safety and Health - Compliance
Glenn Cox, Director
Safety Compliance
(804) 786-2391
(804) 371-6524 FAX
E-Mail:
Safety Compliance
Ron Graham, Director
Health Compliance
(804) 371-2327
(804) 371-6524 FAX
E-Mail:
Health Compliance
VOSH Consultation and Cooperative Programs
Jennifer Wester, Cooperative Programs Director
(Training, Consultation, Information, VPP)
(804) 786-6359
(804) 786-8418 FAX
E-Mail:
Cooperative Programs
Description of the Virginia
State Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH)
Plan
The mission of the Virginia Occupational Safety and
Health (VOSH) program is to protect and promote the safety and health of
Virginia's workers in their workplaces. The Virginia Safety and Health Codes
Board establish Virginia Occupational Safety and Health regulations and
standards, a regulatory board appointed by the Governor. The VOSH program
operates within the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI).
One of the strengths of Virginia's State Plan is that it strives for a
balanced and integrated approach to ensuring safe and healthy workplaces.
Safety and health compliance activities, which include Discrimination
Services, are a large part of the program, but in addition Virginia has
programs that protect employees while providing an opportunity for employers
to work cooperatively with VOSH.
Consultation is available to the public sector (and to the private sector
through the 7(c)(1) grant). The Virginia Voluntary Protection Program (VVPP)
(select "Cooperative Programs," then "Voluntary Protection Program")
recognizes companies where management and labor establish exemplary safety
and health management programs. VVPP members mentor other companies needing
assistance with best practices. Safety networks, larger companies working
together to help provide training and safety expertise to smaller
businesses, are located throughout Virginia. Public briefings, printed
materials including the agency quarterly newsletter, and the annual
occupational safety and health conference are mechanisms used to inform
employers and employees of safety and health requirements. VOSH works
cooperatively with employers through formal partnerships directed toward
specific goals, shared training sessions, settlement agreements, and the
Virginia Compliance Alternative Partnership (VCAP). VCAP identifies Virginia
companies with the highest injury incidence rates and provides an
opportunity for those companies to work cooperatively with VOSH to lower
their rates.
Virginia OSHA Standards
Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System
Legislative Authority/Statutory Code:
Code of Virginia, Title 40.1 - Labor and Employment
Virginia State Plan Home Page Webmaster:
Powers-Taylor Building
13 South 13th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
E-Mail: Webmaster
Enforcement (Compliance)
The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health
Compliance Program conducts inspections of private and public sector
employers to assure compliance with the laws, standards and regulations of
the Commonwealth. The Compliance Program may issue citations listing
violations of the standards and regulations to employers, determines dates
by which violations must be abated, and may propose civil monetary penalties
for certain types of violations (Public Sector employers are not issued such
penalties).
Virginia Unique Standards
The State Plan agreement between the Federal
Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of
Labor and Virginia gives the Commonwealth authority to regulate occupational
safety and health within its jurisdiction for General Industry,
Construction, Agriculture, and the Public Sector.
Federal OSHA retains authority over the following Virginia industries:
private sector maritime (shipyard, marine terminals, long shoring, gear
certification), federal military facilities, as well as other federal
enclaves where civil jurisdiction has been ceded by the State to the federal
government. Federal jurisdiction is also retained with respect to federal
government employers and employees; and over working conditions where a
federal agency has exercised statutory authority to enforce safety and
health standards.
The Safety and Health Codes Board has adopted occupational safety and health
standards for enforcement by the Department of Labor and Industry. Virginia
Code Section 40.1-1 provides that the Virginia Department of Labor and
Industry be responsible for administering and enforcing occupational safety
and health activities within the Commonwealth. Within the Department,
regulation of Virginia occupational safety and health falls under the
purview of the VOSH (Virginia Occupational Safety and Health) Program.
The vast majority of the Virginia occupational safety and health standards
are identical to federal OSHA standards. However, there are several
standards that are unique to Virginia and are listed below. They are unique
in the sense that federal OSHA either does not have a comparable standard
or, if it does, it differs substantively.
For ease of use, instead of reference to the Virginia Administrative Code "VAC"
number, the individual sections will be referred to by subject as well as
the conventional OSHA numbering where the unique standard replaces an
existing or previous Federal OSHA standard on the same subject. For example,
16 VAC 25-175 will be referred to simply as CFR# 1926.650, or "Virginia
Excavation Standard, Construction Industry." The VAC number for each unique
regulation is also listed.
Virginia Unique Standards
DOLI Web site
)
| SECTION |
TITLE |
VAC
Virginia
Administrative Code |
| CFR# 1910.20 |
Access to Employee
Exposure and Medical |
16 VAC 25-80-10
|
| CFR#1910.268(t) |
Confined Space
Standard Telecommunications Industry |
16 VAC 25-70-10 et
seq. |
| CFR# 59.1-406-414 |
Overhead High
Voltage Line Safety Act |
Statute |
| CFR#CNSP.146 |
Confined Space
Standard for Construction |
16 VAC 25-140-10 et
seq. |
| CFR#1926.650 |
Virginia Excavation
Standard, Construction Industry |
16 VAC 25-170-10 et
seq. |
| CFR# 1926.760 |
Fall Protection for
Subpart R - Steel Erection |
16 VAC
25-175-1926.760 |
| CFR# 1926.800 |
Underground
Construction Standard |
16 VAC 25-150-10 |
| CFR# 1928.110 |
Field Sanitation,
Agriculture |
16 VAC 25-180-10 |
| CFR# 1926.51 |
Construction
Industry Standard for Sanitation |
16 VAC 25-160-10 et
seq. |
The VOSH Program also assures compliance with the
Virginia Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act that was enacted by the
General Assembly in 1989 and codified at CFR#CFR# 59.1-406 to 414. This Act is
designed to "promote the safety and protection of persons engaged in work or
activity in the vicinity of overhead high voltage lines." It is enforced in
the same manner as VOSH regulatory standards.
The Department's Asbestos Notification and Permit Program was established by
the General Assembly in 1992 and codified at CFR#CFR#40.1-51.20 to 51.22, as part
of a larger state program requiring licensing and certification of asbestos
contractors and workers by the Department of Professional and Occupational
Regulation (DPOR). The 1995 General Assembly amended CFR#CFR# 40.1-51.20 to 51.22
and the accompanying DPOR laws to add identical requirements for lead
removal contractors and workers that became effective July 1, 1996.
In addition, the Asbestos NESHAPS Program was transferred to the Department
from the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board by the General Assembly in
1992 and codified at CFR#CFR# 40.1-51.23 to 51.41, as part of a consolidation of
inspection responsibilities concerning asbestos removal projects in the
areas of NESHAPS, asbestos licensing and occupational safety and health
standards and regulations for asbestos. View DOLI's Asbestos and Lead
Regulations.
For more information concerning Occupational Safety Compliance please
contact the Program Director at (804) 786-2391. For more information
concerning Occupational Health Compliance, contact the Program Director at
(804) 786-0574, or visit the OSHA, EPA or NIOSH web sites.
Consultation Services and Training
Along with onsite surveys, consultants conduct educational and training
sessions. Through a cooperative effort with the state insurance provider,
quarterly educational seminars are provided to local government by VOSH.
Over the past few years, consultation services were provided to numerous
state agencies including adult and juvenile correctional centers.
Consultation Manager E-Mail
Consultation Training E-mail
Virginia Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)
The Virginia Voluntary Protection Program recognizes and promotes
companies/agencies with comprehensive safety and health programs that go
beyond VOSH standards to protect workers. Worksites establish a cooperative
relationship between management, labor and VOSH; they have safety and health
management systems that follow rigorous criteria established by VOSH.
Benefits identified by VVPP worksites include: improved employee motivation
to work safely, leading to better quality and productivity; reduced workers'
compensation costs; fewer lost workday injuries; and community recognition.
E-mail:
Virginia Voluntary Protection Program
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