1960.8 Federal Agency Safety Duties: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Under Executive Order 12196 and Section 19 of the OSH Act, the head of each federal agency must furnish employees with places and conditions of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Agencies must also acquire and maintain safe equipment and materials and comply with OSHA standards applicable to their operations. This is the federal-sector counterpart to the private-sector general duty requirement.
What the standard requires
- Provide federal employees a workplace free of recognized serious hazards
- Acquire, maintain, and require use of safety equipment and personal protection
- Comply with applicable OSHA standards
- Operate an occupational safety and health program
Hazards it addresses
- Recognized serious hazards in federal facilities
- Injuries from unsafe equipment in federal operations
Cited at federal agencies, including postal facilities, military installations, and veterans' medical centers.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960.8(a) | Agency head must furnish places and conditions of employment free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious harm. | 9 | 9 | $0 |
| 1960.8(c) | Agency must develop, implement, and evaluate an occupational safety and health program. | 1 | 1 | $0 |
Penalties
Across 10 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $2,837 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $1,418, 50% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 80%; Repeat 10%; Other-than-serious 10%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3 | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Nevada | 2 | 2 | $2,837 | $1,418 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Washington | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 |
By industry
- Public administration: 5 inspections
- Retail trade: 2 inspections
- Health care & social assistance: 1 inspections
- Other services: 1 inspections
- Real estate & rental: 1 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dept. of Transportation - Fhwa | Carson City, NV | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Nov 6, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | Decatur, GA | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| U.S. Agency for Global Media (usagm) | Grimesland, NC | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| U.S. Dept. of Interior | Manteo, NC | Jul 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Oct 20, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dept. of Defense- Usaf | Edwards Afb, CA | Apr 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| U.S. Dept of Army | Fort Bragg, NC | Mar 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Dept. of Defense - USN | Port Hueneme, CA | Feb 17, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Mar 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dept. of Defense - USN | San Diego, CA | Jan 7, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jan 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Grove Street Auto Body, Inc. | Sparks, NV | Dec 12, 2025 | 1 | $2,837 | $1,418 | Informal settlementAbatement due Dec 29, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Dept. of Defense - USA | Joint Base Lewis Mcchord, WA | Dec 2, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Dec 29, 2025 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.303 Electrical General (4 shared inspections)
- 1910.253 Oxy-Fuel Welding (2 shared inspections)
- 1910.304 Wiring Design (1 shared inspections)
- 1910.23 Ladders (1 shared inspections)
- 1910.334 Electrical Equipment Use (1 shared inspections)
- 1904.4 Injury Recording Criteria (1 shared inspections)
- 1910.179 Overhead Cranes (1 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (1 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1960.8 require?
Under Executive Order 12196 and Section 19 of the OSH Act, the head of each federal agency must furnish employees with places and conditions of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Agencies must also acquire and maintain safe equipment and materials and comply with OSHA standards applicable to their operations. This is the federal-sector counterpart to the private-sector general duty requirement.
How often was 1960.8 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1960.8 (Federal Agency Safety Duties) appeared in 10 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 10 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1960.8 is cited most?
1960.8(a) was the most-cited paragraph, with 9 items: Agency head must furnish places and conditions of employment free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious harm.
Which states cite 1960.8 most often?
The most citations under 1960.8 in this period were issued in California, North Carolina, Nevada.
What is the typical penalty for a 1960.8 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $0; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $0. Totals: $2,837 proposed, $1,418 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1960.8 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 0% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.