Arkansas (Federal OSHA)
Arkansas has no state OSHA plan, so federal OSHA covers private employers. Poultry plants, timber and logging, farming, trucking, river barges and manufacturing employ many Arkansans, and hot, humid summers and severe storms are part of the job.
- Construction
- General Industry
- Arkansas
At a glance
| Safety agency | Federal OSHA, Region 6 (Dallas), with an area office in Little Rock |
|---|---|
| Covers | Private employers. State and local government workers aren’t covered by OSHA in Arkansas. |
| Rules | Federal standards: 29 CFR 1926 (construction) and 1910 (general industry) |
| Free employer help | OSHA On-Site Consultation Program for small and medium businesses (check OSHA’s directory for the current provider) |
| Workers’ comp | Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission; required for employers with 3 or more employees |
Workers’ comp in Arkansas
- Employers with 3 or more employees must carry workers’ comp insurance.
- Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible, generally within 30 days. Do it in writing.
- A claim for compensation generally must be filed with the Commission within 2 years of the injury, or within 1 year of the last payment.
- Choosing and changing doctors: if the employer picks the doctor, you can usually ask the Commission to change doctors one time. If you picked the doctor, a change generally needs a compelling reason approved by the Commission.
See Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim.
Arkansas hazards to watch
- Poultry and food plants: knives, ammonia, wet floors and repetitive motion. See Food Processing Plant Safety.
- Logging and timber: see Logging and Chainsaws.
- Farm and grain work: see Farm Safety and Grain Handling.
- Heat and humidity: Arkansas has no state heat rule, but federal OSHA expects water, rest and shade. See Heat Illness Rules by State.
- Tornadoes and flooding: see Severe Weather.
- Trucking: see Tractor-Trailers.
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: confidential visits that don’t lead to citations. See OSHA Consultation.
Your first-week checklist in Arkansas
- Report any injury to your employer in writing as soon as it happens
- Ask who the workers’ comp doctor is, and keep all paperwork
- Check the heat plan: water, shade, rest breaks and easing in new workers
- Learn lockout and guarding rules for any machines you work around
- Save federal OSHA’s number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)
Note: This page is a summary. Check federal OSHA and the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission for current rules.
Standards & references
- OSHA: Arkansas offices
- Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission
- OSHA: On-Site Consultation directory
- See also: States Covered by Federal OSHA
- Wages, leave and other worker rights: Arkansas Worker Rights
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