Overview

• Initial Approval: July 20, 1973 (37 FR 19370)
• State Plan Certification: September 14, 1976 (41 FR 39028)
• 18(e) Final Approval: July 2, 1985 (50 FR 27243)

Iowa OSHA is part of the Iowa Division of Labor Services in the Department of Workforce Development. The main office is located in Des Moines.

Coverage

The Iowa State Plan applies to all private sector workplaces in the state with the exception of:

1. Maritime employment, including shipyard employment, marine terminals, and longshoring;
2. Contract workers and contractor-operated facilities engaged in United States Postal Service mail operations;
3. The enforcement of the field sanitation standard, 29 CFR 1928.110 and the enforcement of the temporary labor camps standard, 29 CFR 1910., 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. An exception is that Iowa 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;
4. Federal government-owned and contractor-operated military/munitions facilities;
5. Bridge construction projects spanning the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers between Iowa and other states;
6. Any hazard, industry, geographical area, operation or facility over which the State Plan is unable to effectively exercise jurisdiction for reasons not related to the required performance or structure of the plan; and
7. All working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers onboard aircraft in operation.

The Iowa State Plan also applies to state and local government employers. It does not apply to federal government employers, including the United States Postal Service. Federal OSHA covers the issues not covered by the Iowa State Plan except for the enforcement of the field sanitation and temporary labor camp standards which is the responsibility of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. 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. The State Plan also investigates private and state and local government workplace retaliation cases under a provision analogous to Section 11(c).

A brief summary of the Iowa State Plan is included in the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 CFR 1952.6. 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

Iowa OSHA has adopted OSHA's standards. In addition, it has state-specific standards including:

• Sanitation and Shelter Rules for Railroad Workers
• Hazardous Chemical Risks Right to Know - General Provision

Enforcement Programs

Iowa OSHA compliance officers are responsible for the enforcement of Iowa OSHA's workplace safety and health standards. They inspect workplaces for hazardous conditions that threaten the safety or health of workers and issue citations where violations of Iowa OSHA standards are identified. Inspections may be the result of regular scheduling, imminent danger reports, fatalities, and worker complaints or referrals. Iowa OSHA also enforces a whistleblower provision similar to section 11(c) of the OSH Act. More information on enforcement in Iowa can be found on the Iowa State Plan website.

Voluntary and Cooperative Programs

Iowa OSHA offers voluntary and cooperative programs focused on reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. On-site consultation services are also available which help employers – both state and local government and private – comply with Iowa OSHA and OSHA standards and identify and correct potential safety and health hazards. For more information on these programs, please visit the Iowa State Plan website.

Informal Conferences and Appeals

A three-member Employment Appeal Board is appointed by the governor to represent employers, workers, and the general public. The board serves as an independent administrative adjudicatory body to hear contests of citations, penalties, and abatement periods issued by Iowa OSHA. For more information on these proceedings, please visit the Iowa State Plan website.