With respect to workplace safety and health, Maryland employers are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Act (MOSH). If also operating in other states, Maryland employers may be subject to other state OSHA programs. The federal OSH Act was implemented with the goal of reducing workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths. The OSH Act grants the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency of the federal government, the authority to promulgate rules, standards and regulations governing workplace safety and health.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act‘s (OSH Act’s) broad coverage includes nearly all private-sector employers and their employees. However, certain employers and employees are exempt from coverage. Additionally, court-created rules govern the coverage of workplaces used by multiple employers.
The OSH Act extends broad coverage to most employers across various fields and industries. Religious employers are covered to the extent that their workers are employed for a secular purpose. The limited exemptions from OSHA coverage include: