Tennessee occupational safety and health program

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) awarded the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development $5.64 million under CFDA 17.503 (Occupational Safety and Health State Program) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This block grant funds Tennessee's federally approved state occupational safety and health program, which delivers a comprehensive mix of enforcement, outreach, training, and compliance assistance activities to protect employers and workers engaged in interstate commerce. The state program operates under an approved State Plan and must maintain effectiveness standards at least equivalent to the federal OSHA program.

Under this continuing grant award, Tennessee's program provides critical occupational safety and health services including workplace inspections, safety standards enforcement, employer compliance assistance, worker safety training, and outreach initiatives. The $5.64 million in federal funding supports up to 50 percent of the state program's total costs, with the state providing matching resources. As one of 29 approved state plans receiving annual OSHA grants, Tennessee's program serves as the primary mechanism for administering occupational safety and health protections at the state level, operating under ongoing compliance with federal effectiveness requirements and subject to annual renewal approval by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.