OSHA Regional & Area Offices

OSHA is a national agency, but most of its work happens locally. Complaints are taken, inspections are carried out and questions are answered by regional and area offices near your job. Knowing how OSHA is organized helps you contact the right place, and know who to ask when something unsafe happens at work.

• Workers
• Employers
• Safety Managers
• Union Representatives

How OSHA is organized

• National office: at the nation's capital. OSHA sets national policy, writes standards, publishes guidance and manages programs. It is part of the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Ten regions: OSHA divides the country into 10 regions, numbered 1 to 10. Each region has a Regional Administrator and a regional office that oversees enforcement, training and cooperative programs for the states in that region. Regions also cover U.S. territories.
• Area offices: each region has many area offices, which are the local offices where compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) are based. Area offices accept complaints, open inspections, hold informal conferences about citations and answer questions from workers and employers. See OSHA Inspections.
• State plans: about half of the states and territories run their own OSHA-approved programs instead of federal OSHA for most private-sector jobs (and, in some, only for state and local government workers). State plans must be at least as effective as federal OSHA, and may have extra rules. See State OSHA Plans and Public Employees.
• Other offices: OSHA has specialized units such as the OSHA Training Institute, the Salt Lake Technical Center (laboratory and technical support), the Directorate of Enforcement Programs and whistleblower investigators in each region. See Whistleblower Protection.

Which office to contact

• Federal OSHA jurisdiction: call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) (TTY 1-877-889-5627), use OSHA's online complaint form, or contact your local area office. The hotline can connect you to the right office and has interpreters. See Worker Rights.
• State plan state: contact the state agency that runs the plan, since federal OSHA generally won't handle private-sector complaints there. Check OSHA's state plan page for the contact. See State OSHA Plans.
• Find your office: OSHA's website has an office locator listing area offices by state and ZIP code, with phone numbers and addresses.
• Emergencies and fatalities: employers must report a work-related fatality within 8 hours and an in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours to OSHA by phone (the nearest area office or the 800 number) or online. See Recordkeeping & Reporting and Fatality Investigations.
• Whistleblower complaints (retaliation) must be filed quickly: often within 30 days under the OSH Act's Section 11(c). Contact the area office, regional whistleblower investigator or the hotline. See Whistleblower Protection.

What to have ready when you call

• Your employer's name and address and the exact worksite location, including the project name and address and where on the site the hazard is.
• A clear description of the hazard: what is happening, who is exposed, how long it's been going on and whether anyone was hurt.
• What you've already done, such as telling your supervisor, and the response.
• Photos, dates, names of witnesses (if safe), and any documents such as training records or injury reports.
• Whether you want OSHA to keep your name confidential. You can ask that your name not be given to your employer. See OSHA Inspections.
• If there is imminent danger (an immediate threat of death or serious harm), say so, and call 911 for emergencies. See Imminent Danger.

Other help from regional and area offices

• Compliance assistance specialists offer outreach, answers to questions and presentations to workers, trade groups and employers.
• Cooperative programs: your area office can explain alliances, partnerships, VPP and local emphasis programs. See OSHA Alliances & Partnerships, Voluntary Protection Programs and OSHA Emphasis Programs.
• Training grants and courses available in your area. See Susan Harwood Training Grants.
• On-site consultation for small employers is run by state agencies under OSHA funding, separate from enforcement. See OSHA Consultation.
• Informal conferences and settlements after citations take place with area office staff. See Contesting Citations.

OSHA offices checklist

• I know if my state is under federal OSHA or a state plan
• I have the OSHA number, 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), and found my area office
• I have the worksite address, hazard details and any photos ready before I call
• I know the 8-hour and 24-hour reporting deadlines for serious incidents
• I know whistleblower complaints have short deadlines

Last updated: October 5, 2026