Overview

• Initial Approval: August 10, 1973 (38 FR 21628)
• State Plan Certification: September 13, 1977 (42 FR 45905)
• 18(e) Final Approval: September 28, 1984 (49 FR 38252)

The Alaska Occupational Safety and Health Division (AKOSH) is part of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The two main offices are located in Anchorage and Juneau.

Coverage

The Alaska State Plan covers all private sector places of employment in the state with the following exceptions:

1. Maritime employment, including shipyard employment, marine terminals, and longshoring;
2. Worksites located on the navigable waters, including artificial islands;
3. Native American health care facilities that are federally owned and contractor-operated, including those owned by the U.S. Department of the Interior – Indian Health Service, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. Department of Commerce – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and operated by tribal organizations under contract with the Indian Health Service;
4. Operations of employers within the Metlakatla Indian Community on the Annette Islands; except state school district workers;
5. Operations of employers within Denali National Park;
6. Operations of contractors at Cape Lisburne Air Force Station], Point Lay Air Force Distant Early Warning Station, Eareckson Air Station on Shemya Island, Fort Greeley in Delta Junction, the U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Support Commands in Kodiak and Ketchikan, the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Sitka, and the U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Command in Juneau;
7. Contract workers and contractor-operated facilities engaged in United States Postal Service (USPS) mail operations;
8. The enforcement of the field sanitation standard, 29 CFR 1928.110, and the enforcement of the temporary labor camps standard, 29 CFR 1910.142, with respect to any agricultural establishment where workers are engaged in "agricultural employment" within the meaning of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, 29 USC 1802(3) – regardless of the number of workers – including workers engaged in hand packing of produce into containers (whether done on the ground, on a moving machine, or in a temporary packing shed), except Alaska retains enforcement responsibility over agricultural temporary labor camps for workers engaged in egg, poultry, or red meat production, or the post-harvest processing of agricultural or horticultural commodities; and
9. All working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers onboard aircraft in operation.

The Alaska State Plan also covers state and local government workers. It does not apply to federal government employers including the United States Postal Service. Federal OSHA covers the issues not covered by the Alaska State Plan. The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor covers the agricultural issues not covered by the Alaska State Plan. In addition, federal OSHA retains enforcement of the anti-retaliation provision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section 11(c), 29 USC 660(c), with respect to the private sector. AKOSH also investigates private and state and local government workplace retaliation cases under a provision analogous to Section 11(c).

A brief summary of the Alaska State Plan is included in the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 CFR 1952.12. Federal OSHA retains the authority to promulgate, modify, or revoke occupational safety and health standards under Section 6 of the OSH Act. In the event that federal OSHA resumes enforcement, those federal standards will be enforced. Federal OSHA also retains the authority to monitor the State Plan under Section 18(f) of the OSH Act.

State Plan Standards

AKOSH has adopted all federal OSHA standards and incorporates them by reference. In addition, AKOSH has adopted the following standards:

General Industry

• Explosives and Blasting Agents
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Temporary Labor Camps
• Confined Spaces
• Logging and Forestry
• Telecommunications
• Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
• Painting Operations
• Electrical Hazards
• Toxic Substances
• Bloodborne Pathogens and Other Infectious Diseases
• Hazard Communication
• Oil and Gas Drilling, Servicing, and Production
• Oil and Gas Refining, Transportation, and Handling
• Asbestos Abatement (Training, Certification, and Plan Approval)

Construction

• Gases, Vapors, Fumes, Dusts, or Mists
• Steel Erection and Wood Framing
• Electric Power Transmission and Distribution

Enforcement Programs

AKOSH is responsible for the enforcement of Alaska OSHA safety and health standards, regulations, and other provisions, including a prohibition against retaliation for occupational safety or health activity. AKOSH utilizes the AKOSH Field Operations Manual to provide guidance for the enforcement program. Compliance officers inspect workplaces for hazardous conditions and issue citations where violations of AKOSH standards, regulations, and other provisions of the state occupational safety and health statute are found. Inspections may be the result of regular scheduling, imminent danger reports, fatalities, worker complaints or referrals. More information on enforcement in Alaska can be found on the Alaska State Plan website.

Voluntary and Cooperative Programs

AKOSH offers voluntary and cooperative programs focused on reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. AKOSH also offers on-site consultation services which help employers comply with AKOSH standards, regulations, and other provisions of the state occupational safety and health statute and identify and correct potential safety and health hazards. For more information on these programs, please visit the Alaska State Plan website.

Informal Conferences and Appeals

AKOSH management personnel conduct informal conferences in an effort to resolve contested cases. The Alaska Occupational Safety and Health Review Board hears and rules on appeals from citations, notifications, and penalties issued by Alaska OSHA's enforcement unit. For more information, please visit the Alaska State Plan website.