Although the partial shutdown of the federal government continues to affect many agencies, the U.S. Department of Labor – of which OSHA is a part – is open and funded as a result of spending bills that were previously passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump.

Departments that are impacted by the shutdown, and are currently restricted to essential personnel: Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Interior, State, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Independent agencies like NASA and the Food and Drug Administration will also be restricted to essential personnel.

The Department of Labor, along with the Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Energy and Water, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and – as previously mentioned - the Department of Labor are open for business.

OSHA continues to enforce its regulations and prosecute citations, which means employers should prepared if they are currently undergoing an inspection or defending a citation.