Tennessee (TOSHA)

The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA), part of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, runs Tennessee’s state plan for most private and public employers. Tennessee generally follows federal standards and requires safety committees for employers with high injury costs.

• Construction
• General Industry
• Public employees
• Tennessee

At a glance

Key Tennessee points

• Standards: TOSHA’s compliance officers enforce the general industry (29 CFR 1910), construction (1926) and agriculture (1928) standards as adopted by Tennessee.
• Safety committees: employers covered by Tennessee workers’ compensation with an experience modification rate (EMR) of 1.2 or higher must set up a safety committee with equal employer and worker members. Committees inspect the workplace quarterly, investigate incidents and meet at least every 60 days.
• Free help: TOSHA Consultative Services offers free consultation for smaller employers, and TOSHA Training Services provides education. The SHARP program recognizes small employers with strong safety programs.
• Asbestos: TDEC accredits asbestos professionals and firms working in schools and public and commercial buildings. See Asbestos Rules by State.

Reporting injuries

Employers must report work-related deaths within 8 hours, and in-patient hospitalizations, amputations and loss of an eye within 24 hours. Check TOSHA for current procedures.

Complaints and retaliation

• File a safety complaint with TOSHA online, by phone or by mail.
• Retaliation for raising safety concerns is illegal. Deadlines are short (generally 30 days), so file right away.

Last updated: October 2, 2026