Title 29, LaborRelease 119-110

§668 Programs of Federal Agencies

Title 29 › CHAPTER 15 — OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH › § 668

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Heads of each federal agency, except the United States Postal Service, must run an effective safety and health program that follows the standards under section 655. After consulting employee representatives, they must provide safe workplaces, supply and require needed safety equipment and protection, keep records of all work-related accidents and illnesses and consult the Secretary about those records, and send the Secretary an annual report on accidents, injuries, and the agency’s safety program. The annual report must include any report sent under section 7902(e)(2) of title 5. The Secretary must give the President a summary of those annual reports with evaluations and recommendations. The Secretary may view the agencies’ records and reports unless an Executive order keeps them secret for national defense or foreign policy; if so, the Secretary must receive whatever information will not harm those interests.

Full Legal Text

Title 29, §668

Labor, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment, development, and maintenance by head of each Federal agency
It shall be the responsibility of the head of each Federal agency (not including the United States Postal Service) to establish and maintain an effective and comprehensive occupational safety and health program which is consistent with the standards promulgated under section 655 of this title. The head of each agency shall (after consultation with representatives of the employees thereof)— (1)
(2)acquire, maintain, and require the use of safety equipment, personal protective equipment, and devices reasonably necessary to protect employees;
(3)keep adequate records of all occupational accidents and illnesses for proper evaluation and necessary corrective action;
(4)consult with the Secretary with regard to the adequacy as to form and content of rec­ords kept pursuant to subsection (a)(3) of this section; and
(5)make an annual report to the Secretary with respect to occupational accidents and injuries and the agency’s program under this section. Such report shall include any report submitted under section 7902(e)(2) of title 5.
(b)Report by Secretary to President
The Secretary shall report to the President a summary or digest of reports submitted to him under subsection (a)(5) of this section, together with his evaluations of and recommendations derived from such reports.
(c)Omitted
(d)Access by Secretary to records and reports required of agencies
The Secretary shall have access to records and reports kept and filed by Federal agencies pursuant to subsections (a)(3) and (5) of this section unless those records and reports are specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of the national defense or foreign policy, in which case the Secretary shall have access to such information as will not jeopardize national defense or foreign policy.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Subsec. (c) of this section amended section 7902 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–241 inserted “(not including the United States Postal Service)” after “each Federal agency”. 1982—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–375 struck out direction that the President transmit annually to the Senate and House a report of the activities of Federal agencies under this section.

Executive Documents

Occupational Safety and Health Programs for Federal EmployeesOccupational safety and health programs for Federal employees and continuation of Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health, see Ex. Ord. No. 12196, Feb. 26, 1980, 45 F.R. 12769, set out as a note under section 7902 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

29 U.S.C. § 668

Title 29, Labor

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110