⚠ Emergency & Reporting
1-800-321-6742
OSHA Helpline (Anonymous)
8 Hours
Report Fatality
24 Hours
Hospitalization / Amputation / Eye Loss
osha.gov
File Complaint Online
01
Key OSHA Standards
Critical regulations for trade show & live event production
Rigging & Overhead Work
29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC · ASME B30
Cranes, hoists, chain motors, overhead rigging for lighting grids, signs, and structures. All rigging must be inspected, rated, and documented before use.
Electrical Safety
29 CFR 1910.303–.308 · NFPA 70E
Temporary power distribution is a major hazard on show floors. Only qualified persons may work on or near exposed live parts. GFCI protection required.
Fall Protection
29 CFR 1926.502 · 29 CFR 1910.28
Required for work at heights of 4 ft (general industry) or 6 ft (construction). Applies to stages, risers, lighting grids, exhibit structures, and loading docks.
Powered Industrial Trucks
29 CFR 1910.178
Forklifts and PITs used during move-in/out require operator certification. Operators must be evaluated every 3 years. Pedestrian traffic zones must be clearly marked.
Hazard Communication (HazCom)
29 CFR 1910.1200
GHS-aligned labeling and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) required for all hazardous chemicals — adhesives, paints, solvents, cleaning agents. SDS must be accessible to all workers.
Personal Protective Equipment
29 CFR 1910.132–.138
Employers must conduct and document a PPE hazard assessment for each task. Hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, hi-vis vests, and steel-toed boots are commonly required on Freeman sites.
Lockout / Tagout (LOTO)
29 CFR 1910.147
Control of hazardous energy during equipment servicing and maintenance. Required written program, training, and periodic inspection of energy control procedures.
Emergency Action Plan
29 CFR 1910.38
Required written plan covering evacuation routes, emergency contacts, employee roles, and accounting procedures. Must be communicated to all workers at each venue.
02
Multi-Employer Worksite Policy
Freeman as a controlling employer — your responsibilities when subcontractors are on site
Freeman's Role as Controlling Employer
Under OSHA's Multi-Employer Citation Policy, Freeman can be cited for hazards created by subcontractors, EACs, or venue staff if Freeman has general supervisory authority over the worksite. This applies even if Freeman employees were not exposed to the hazard.
Subcontractor & EAC Requirements
Before engaging any subcontractor or EAC on a Freeman-controlled site, verify: current OSHA 10/30 credentials, written safety program, incident/EMR history, and PPE compliance. Require all subs to follow Freeman site safety rules without exception.
03
Supervisor & GM Daily Checklist
Click checkboxes to track — print or save as PDF to document compliance
📋 Before Move-In Begins
- Conduct site walkthrough and identify hazards
- Complete Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) for the show
- Post OSHA "It's The Law" poster in crew area
- Confirm Emergency Action Plan is communicated — Get Venue Plan | Branch/Office Plan
- Verify all rigging points and load ratings
- Check all forklift operators have current certification
- Confirm SDS binder is on-site and accessible
- Hold toolbox talk with all crew
🔎 During Show / Move-Out
- Conduct daily safety walkthroughs
- Verify PPE compliance for all workers on floor
- Monitor subcontractors and EACs for compliance
- Document and correct any hazards found
- Log any near misses or incidents in OSHA 300
- Ensure pedestrian/forklift zones are marked
- Confirm all overhead loads are secured before travel
- Review and close out any open safety actions
04
Incident Reporting Requirements
Federal OSHA timelines — State Plan states may have stricter requirements
| Incident Type | Federal Deadline | How to Report | Record Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatality | Within 8 Hours | Call 1-800-321-6742 or nearest OSHA office | OSHA 300 Log + 301 Incident Report |
| In-patient hospitalization | Within 24 Hours | Call 1-800-321-6742 or nearest OSHA office | OSHA 300 Log + 301 Incident Report |
| Amputation | Within 24 Hours | Call 1-800-321-6742 or nearest OSHA office | OSHA 300 Log + 301 Incident Report |
| Loss of an eye | Within 24 Hours | Call 1-800-321-6742 or nearest OSHA office | OSHA 300 Log + 301 Incident Report |
| All recordable injuries/illnesses | End of calendar year | Log in OSHA 300; post 300A summary Feb 1–Apr 30 | OSHA 300 Log (retain 5 years) |
⚠ State Plan Note: Deadlines above reflect federal OSHA requirements. State Plan states may be more stringent. For example, California (Cal/OSHA) requires reporting any serious injury, illness, or fatality within 8 hours. Always verify requirements for your state. View State Plan States list →
05
OSHA Reportable — What, How & Who
Mandatory reporting requirements for serious work-related incidents
🚨 What Must Be Reported
All employers must notify OSHA when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye, in accordance with federal OSHA or applicable State Plan reporting requirements.
- Fatality — report within 8 hours
- In-patient hospitalization — report within 24 hours
- Amputation — report within 24 hours
- Loss of an eye — report within 24 hours
Note: ER-only treatment (no inpatient admission), motor vehicle accidents on public roads, and hospitalization for observation/diagnostic testing only are NOT reportable under federal OSHA.
⚠ State Plan Note: State Plan states may have stricter requirements. For example, California (Cal/OSHA) requires reporting any serious injury, illness, or fatality within 8 hours. Refer to the State Plan States list →
📞 How & Who Reports
Who: The employer providing day-to-day supervision of the worker must report — not necessarily the host employer or venue.
Find Nearest OSHA Office ↗
Call OSHA 24-hr Hotline: 1-800-321-6742 ↗
Report Online ↗
State Plan States — Check Your State ↗
Be prepared to supply:
- Business name
- Names of employees affected
- Location and time of the incident
- Brief description of the incident
- Contact person and phone number
06
Serious Injury Response — Forklifts & Motorized Equipment
Immediate steps when a serious incident involves powered industrial trucks
🚑 Immediate Actions
- Call 911 if needed
- Get the injured person first aid immediately
- Take pictures of all equipment before moving anything
- Red Tag (Out of Service) all motorized equipment involved
- Lock up equipment so no one else can use it
- Check with venue security for video footage
- Get witness statements from those involved
- Get witness statements from those who saw the incident
📋 Follow-Up Actions
- Have a service provider inspect all equipment involved
- Retrieve pre-shift inspection documents for all equipment
- Complete the injury report on FIR
- Complete the damage incident report on FIR
- Verify equipment operator has a current certification card
- Consider post-accident drug and alcohol testing
- Consider removing operator from operation and reassigning
- Consider retraining / recertifying the operator
- Determine if the serious injury must be reported to OSHA
- Refer to "When OSHA Shows Up" checklist if investigation expected
07
When OSHA Shows Up — Inspection Protocol
Step-by-step guide for managing an OSHA compliance inspection on site
🪪 First Contact
- Ask to see the compliance officer's credentials
- Photocopy compliance officer's credentials
- Escort them to a conference room — offer water or coffee
- Step out and call your Regional Risk Manager / Director
- Call branch General Manager to inform them
- Determine scope — ask what area, department, or employees are involved
- Obtain and photocopy any supporting documents from the officer
- Request an Opening Conference
⚠ Compliance officers cannot collect penalties or promote products. Verify credentials — people have impersonated OSHA officers.
📂 Opening Conference
Know the location of these documents before any inspection begins:
- OSHA 300 Logs
- OSHA Recordable 1st Report of Injury Forms
- OSHA 2203 Poster
- Company Safety Manual
- Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)
Rules: Offer only documents requested. Do not copy documents for the officer (they can subpoena if needed). Officer must not remove documents from the facility. Do not speculate on answers — defer to someone who knows.
🚶 Walk-Through Inspection
- Notify department managers an inspection is occurring
- Provide compliance officer required PPE for applicable areas
- Choose the best path — route away from potential hazards
- Do not allow officer into areas off-limits to employees
- Take notes of everything the officer looks at
- Take the exact same photos of anything the officer photographs
- Answer only specific questions — do not speculate
- Keep inspector confined to the scope of the investigation
Employee Interview Rights: Private closed-door interview · With or without a union rep · With an employer/union rep (recommended) · Right to refuse interview. State company policy — not personal opinions.
🤝 Closing Conference
- Contact Regional Manager / Director to participate
- Attempt to obtain information about inspection results
- Ask what areas will be recommended for citation
- Ask what hazards were created by observed violations
- Correct any easily remedied violations immediately
08
After an OSHA Citation
What to do immediately and next steps after receiving a citation
⚡ ASAP — Upon Receipt
- Read the entire citation document
- Share via email with the OSHA Response Committee
- Share with key stakeholders of the affected entity
- Print each Citation Item, black out the Proposed Penalty amount, and post near where each violation occurred
Citation postings must remain in place until the hazard is corrected or for the number of working days specified by OSHA — whichever is longer.
📅 Next Steps
- Note the ISSUANCE DATE
- Determine the RESPONSE DEADLINE (typically 15 days after issuance)
- Note each citation's required ABATEMENT BY date
- Determine if citation and penalties will be CONTESTED
- If contesting, schedule an INFORMAL CONFERENCE with OSHA
- If informal conference is set, post NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
- Determine if an ABATEMENT DATE MODIFICATION is needed
- Determine how to ABATE each hazard
- ABATE each hazard and POST the ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION FORM
- Submit NOTICE OF CORRECTIVE ACTION to OSHA
- PAY THE PENALTY before the due date (typically within 15 days)
09
Key Resources & Links
Official sources for standards, training, and industry guidance
🏛 OSHA Official
🎓 Training & Certification
🎪 Industry Standards
📝 Forms & Recordkeeping
🌐 International Resources
🔍 Look Up Any Standard