In which states must agencies comply with safety and health standards?

Agencies in states without OSHA-approved state plans are required to comply with federal safety and health standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In the absence of a state plan, OSHA retains primary enforcement authority and can directly enforce regulations to ensure workplace safety. This means that employers in these states must adhere to the federal guidelines to maintain a safe work environment, as no alternate provisions are offered through state-specific regulations.

When a state has an approved OSHA plan, it has its own set of safety and health regulations, which must be at least as effective as those provided by OSHA. In states without these plans, federal standards are the only measure in place, emphasizing the importance of compliance with OSHA directives.

The other choices reference conditions where compliance is either not mandated, not applicable, or do not reflect the current regulatory framework that requires certain states to adhere strictly to federal OSHA standards.