Oklahoma (Federal OSHA)
Oklahoma has no state OSHA plan, so federal OSHA covers private employers. Oil and gas fields, wind farms, aerospace and manufacturing, agriculture and trucking drive the economy, and the state sees tornadoes, ice storms, wildfires and extreme heat.
- Construction
- General Industry
- Oklahoma
At a glance
| Safety agency | Federal OSHA, Region 6 (Dallas), Oklahoma City Area Office |
|---|---|
| Covers | Private employers. State and local government workers aren’t covered by OSHA in Oklahoma. |
| Rules | Federal standards: 29 CFR 1926 (construction) and 1910 (general industry) |
| Free employer help | Oklahoma Department of Labor, OSHA Consultation program (check OSHA’s directory for details) |
| Workers’ comp | Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission |
Workers’ comp in Oklahoma
- Give your employer written notice within 30 days of the injury. For cumulative trauma injuries, the 30 days can run from separation from employment.
- The employer generally chooses the treating doctor, and must provide reasonable and necessary treatment promptly after it knows of the injury.
- You can ask the Commission to change doctors, with limits that depend on your employer’s type of coverage (such as a certified workplace medical plan).
- File a claim with the Commission generally within 1 year of the injury.
See Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim.
Oklahoma hazards to watch
- Oil and gas: well sites, confined spaces and toxic gases. See Oil & Gas Well Sites and Hydrogen Sulfide.
- Wind energy: see Wind Turbine Technicians and Tower Climbers.
- Tornadoes, severe storms and ice: know your shelter. See Severe Weather.
- Heat: Oklahoma has no state heat rule, but federal OSHA expects water, rest and shade. See Heat Illness Rules by State.
- Farm and ranch work: see Farm Safety.
- Trucking and long rural drives: see Driver Fatigue.
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 Oklahoma
- Report any injury to your employer in writing within 30 days (sooner is better)
- Ask who the workers’ comp doctor is
- Learn the tornado shelter at each work site
- Check the heat plan: water, shade, rest breaks and easing in new workers
- Save federal OSHA’s number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)
Note: This page is a summary. Check federal OSHA and the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission for current rules.
Standards & references
- OSHA: Oklahoma offices
- Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission
- OSHA: On-Site Consultation directory
- See also: States Covered by Federal OSHA
- Wages, leave and other worker rights: Oklahoma Worker Rights
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