Missouri (Federal OSHA)
Missouri has no state OSHA plan, so federal OSHA covers private employers. The state does require OSHA 10-hour training for workers on public construction projects. Hot, humid summers, tornadoes and river flooding are major hazards.
- Construction
- General Industry
- Missouri
At a glance
| Safety agency | Federal OSHA, Region 7, with area offices in Kansas City and St. Louis |
|---|---|
| Covers | Private employers. State and local government workers aren’t covered by OSHA in Missouri. |
| Rules | Federal standards: 29 CFR 1926 (construction) and 1910 (general industry) |
| Free employer help | Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, On-Site Safety and Health Consultation |
| Workers’ comp | Division of Workers’ Compensation; required for employers with 5 or more employees, and for construction employers with even 1 |
OSHA 10 on public works
Missouri law generally requires workers on public works construction projects (paid for by the state or local governments) to complete an OSHA 10-hour construction course (or a state-approved equivalent) within 60 days of starting on the project (RSMo 292.675). Contractors face penalties for each untrained worker, and workers without proof of training can be removed from the job. See OSHA 10 & 30 Cards.
Workers’ comp in Missouri
- Give your employer written notice within 30 days of the injury: when, where and how it happened.
- Your employer has the right to choose the treating doctor. You can see your own doctor at your own expense.
- A claim generally must be filed within 2 years of the injury, or 3 years if your employer didn’t file the required report of injury.
See Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim.
Missouri hazards to watch
- Heat and humidity: Missouri has no state heat rule, but federal OSHA expects water, rest, shade and acclimatization. See Heat Illness Rules by State.
- Tornadoes and severe storms: know your shelter. See Severe Weather.
- Flooding: never drive into flooded roads. See Flooded Roads.
- Road and bridge work: work zones on busy interstates. See Work Zones.
- Mining: lead and limestone mines are covered by MSHA, not OSHA. See MSHA vs. OSHA.
Report, complain and get help
- Severe injuries: report a death within 8 hours and an in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours to federal OSHA.
- Safety complaints: federal OSHA online or at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
- Retaliation: file with OSHA within 30 days. See Whistleblower Protection.
- Free consultation: Missouri’s program gives small and medium businesses confidential visits that don’t lead to citations.
Your first-week checklist in Missouri
- On a public project? Finish OSHA 10 within 60 days and keep your card with you
- Give written notice of any injury within 30 days
- Ask who the company’s workers’ comp doctor is
- Check the heat plan and the severe weather shelter
- Save federal OSHA’s number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)
Note: This page is a summary. Check federal OSHA and the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for current rules.
Standards & references
- OSHA: Missouri offices
- Missouri On-Site Safety & Health Consultation
- Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation: Report your injury
- See also: States Covered by Federal OSHA
- Wages, leave and other worker rights: Missouri Worker Rights
Last updated: