Montana (Federal OSHA)

Montana has no state OSHA plan, so federal OSHA covers private employers. Montana does have its own law requiring employers to run a safety program and train workers. Ranching, construction, logging, energy and long rural drives, plus harsh winters and wildfire smoke, shape the hazards here.

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At a glance

The Montana Safety Culture Act

This state law requires employers to have a workplace safety program that includes safety training for new workers and ongoing training for everyone, suited to the hazards of the job, plus periodic safety meetings and hazard assessments. Employers with more than 5 employees generally also need a safety committee with worker and management members, and procedures for reporting and investigating injuries. Ask your employer about its safety program and training on your first day.

Workers’ comp in Montana

• Report an injury to your employer within 30 days. Report in writing and keep a copy.
• Your employer must report the injury to its insurer, which reports it to the state, within 6 days of learning about it.
• A claim generally must be filed within 1 year of the injury. Occupational diseases that develop over time have their own deadlines.

See Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim.

Montana hazards to watch

• Cold and winter driving: frostbite, hypothermia, icy roads and long distances between towns. See Cold Stress and Winter Driving.
• Wildfire smoke: summer smoke can make outdoor work unhealthy. See Wildfire Smoke.
• Agriculture and ranching: tractors, PTOs, livestock and grain bins. See Farm Safety.
• Logging and remote work: help can be hours away. Plan communication and first aid. See Working Alone.
• Mining: 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: the Safety and Health Bureau offers confidential visits that don’t lead to citations.

Your first-week checklist in Montana

• Ask about your employer’s safety program and training under the Safety Culture Act
• Report any injury to your employer in writing, within 30 days
• Carry winter gear and an emergency kit in your work vehicle
• Know the plan for wildfire smoke days
• Save federal OSHA’s number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)

Last updated: October 2, 2026