Vermont State Plan approval

The Vermont State plan was initially approved on October 16, 1973. This date simply records when Vermont’s plan first received OSHA approval; it does not by itself change an employer’s day-to-day compliance duties. For the official citation see 1952.14(a).

It means OSHA and Vermont agreed on the operational status of Vermont’s state-plan program. The text in 1952.14(b) is the official statement that such an agreement exists; for the specific operational terms and how they affect inspections or enforcement you must consult the Vermont State Plan office or the state-plan webpage referenced in 1952.14(c).

The Vermont State plan covers all private‑sector employers and employees (with several notable exceptions), and it also covers State and local government employers and employees within Vermont. See the coverage statement in 1952.14(c).

You should consult the Vermont State Plan web resource listed in the regulation for current exceptions and details. 1952.14(c) directs readers to the Vermont plan page for up‑to‑date information; contact the Vermont State Plan office through that page to confirm any specific exception or program detail.

Vermont’s approval means the state operates an OSHA‑approved plan for its jurisdiction, as noted in 1952.14. Whether a particular federal OSHA standard applies in Vermont depends on which standards Vermont has adopted under its plan and any exceptions noted on the Vermont plan page referenced in 1952.14(c). For specifics, verify the adopted Vermont standards and exceptions with the state plan office.

Yes — the regulation explicitly states that the Vermont plan covers State and local government employers and employees within the State. See 1952.14(c) for that coverage statement.

You must check whether Vermont has adopted that federal standard and whether the specific task involves occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). The regulation points you to the Vermont plan page for current adopted standards in 1952.14(c). For federal guidance on how the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to wastewater tasks, see OSHA’s letter of interpretation on bloodborne pathogens in wastewater at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2007-07-30, which explains that raw sewage is generally not considered OPIM unless visibly contaminated with blood and that employers must evaluate tasks for reasonable anticipation of exposure.

Not automatically — an employer must evaluate whether workers have occupational exposure to blood or OPIM before the vaccination requirement applies. OSHA’s interpretation about bloodborne pathogens in wastewater explains that diluted raw sewage and ordinary human waste generally are not OPIM unless visibly contaminated with blood, and that employers are responsible for determining which tasks reasonably anticipate exposure (see https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2007-07-30 and 1952.14(c)). If Vermont has adopted 29 CFR 1910.1030 under its plan for the workplace in question, follow that adopted standard and the employer’s exposure determination.

Employers should consult the Vermont State Plan resources and contact the Vermont plan office for authoritative, current operational and enforcement details, as directed by 1952.14(c). The regulation explicitly refers readers to the Vermont plan web resource for up‑to‑date information and exceptions.

No — the initial approval date only records when Vermont’s plan was first approved (October 16, 1973). Compliance with any particular standard depends on current Vermont‑adopted rules and any listed exceptions; consult 1952.14(a) and the Vermont plan page in 1952.14(c) to confirm which standards and effective dates apply to a facility.

Yes — OSHA letters of interpretation provide practical explanations of how OSHA interprets specific federal standards and can be useful guidance, but employers must confirm whether Vermont has adopted the underlying federal standard under its plan. For example, see OSHA’s spray booth interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2004-08-12 for federal guidance on spray‑booth definitions, sprinkler requirements, and storage-room rules, and check 1952.14(c) to determine whether those federal provisions are adopted in Vermont.