The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has scheduled an informal stakeholder meeting to solicit comments on how to determine whether OSHA-approved State Plans are at least as effective as the Federal OSHA program as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The purpose of this meeting is to provide a forum to gather information and ideas on key outcome and activity-based indicators and how OSHA can use such indicators to assess the effectiveness of State Plans. The meeting is scheduled for June 25 in Washington, D.C.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which created OSHA also encourages states to develop and operate their own workplace safety and health plans. As a condition of OSHA approval, State Plans must provide standards and enforcement programs that are "at least as effective as" the federal OSHA program. OSHA is responsible for approving and monitoring State Plans.

Currently there are 27 OSHA-approved state occupational safety and health plans, including 22 states and territories that operate comprehensive State Plans covering the private sector and state and local government employers and employees. Five states and territories operate State Plans that cover only public sector employees.