Minnesota AWAIR Program — Minnesota OSHA
The written workplace safety program required of Minnesota employers in designated high-hazard industries under Minn. Stat. §182.653 (AWAIR — A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction). Covers hazard identification, training, accident investigation, and the joint management-employee program oversight.
When this template is required
Required of Minnesota employers in industries designated by Minnesota OSHA as having high injury and illness rates (changes periodically; designation by SIC/NAICS code published by DLI). Currently covered industries include logging, sawmills, structural metal manufacturing, motor vehicle dealers/repair, several others. AWAIR-required employers must develop, implement, and update a written program addressing specified elements.
Why this template
Industry-specific mandate
AWAIR isn't required of every MN employer — only those in industries designated by MN OSHA as having high injury rates. The list is published by DLI and updated periodically. The worksheet helps employers determine coverage by SIC/NAICS code.
Joint management-employee oversight
§182.653 requires AWAIR programs to include joint management-employee participation in development, implementation, and review. Not a generic employer-only program. The plan includes the joint oversight structure.
Voluntary AWAIR available
Even non-covered employers can voluntarily implement AWAIR — and many do for insurance and management-system benefits. The plan supports both mandatory and voluntary AWAIR programs.
Coverage determination tool
Determining whether an employer is AWAIR-covered requires SIC/NAICS lookup against the DLI-designated list. The worksheet walks through the determination so coverage is documented (not just assumed).
What you receive
- Minnesota AWAIR Program (Word .docx)
- Industry coverage determination worksheet (SIC/NAICS lookup)
- Hazard identification and assessment procedure
- Engineering, administrative, and PPE controls hierarchy
- Annual employee training outline
- Accident investigation procedure
- Joint management-employee program oversight committee
- Annual program evaluation
- Minnesota DLI inspection-readiness checklist
- Posting and employee notification requirements
How you get it
This document is written and reviewed against the standard it cites, and it is ready now. The download link is emailed as soon as your payment clears.
Revisions included — if something about your operation changes what the document should say, reply to the delivery email and we will amend it.
Who buys this
- Minnesota logging and sawmill operations
- Minnesota structural metal manufacturing
- Minnesota motor vehicle dealers and repair facilities
- Minnesota meat packing and food processing (where covered)
- Minnesota construction (in covered subsectors)
- Minnesota employers seeking voluntary AWAIR compliance
Frequently asked
Who's required to have an AWAIR program?
Minnesota employers in industries DESIGNATED BY MN OSHA as having high injury and illness rates. The list is published in Minnesota Rules Chapter 5208 and updated periodically. Currently designated industries include (partial list): logging (NAICS 1133), sawmills and wood preservation (3211), structural metal manufacturing (3323), motor vehicle parts manufacturing (3363), motor vehicle dealers and repair (4411, 8111), several others. Always check the current DLI-designated list.
What if our industry isn't on the AWAIR list?
Then mandatory AWAIR doesn't apply. However, many non-covered employers voluntarily implement AWAIR — it's a structured safety management system that often satisfies workers comp insurance carrier expectations and serves as the foundation for ISO 45001 or ANSI Z10 certification. The plan supports voluntary AWAIR.
What's the joint management-employee requirement?
§182.653 requires the AWAIR program to include joint participation by management and employees in: program development; hazard identification; corrective action review; annual program evaluation. Not just an employer-only program. For unionized employers, union representatives participate. For non-union employers, employees select representatives through a method agreed upon with management.
How is AWAIR different from a generic safety program?
AWAIR has specified elements that other safety programs don't always include: industry-coverage analysis, joint management-employee oversight, structured annual evaluation, specific corrective action documentation. Many of these elements appear in generic safety programs but AWAIR specifies them in greater detail and with more procedural requirements.
Does this satisfy MN OSHA inspection requirements?
MN OSHA inspectors look for specific AWAIR elements in designated industries. The plan addresses each element. The DLI inspection-readiness checklist documents what inspectors look for, helping demonstrate compliance quickly during inspection.