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Manufacturing Regulations and Compliance
In regulatory terms, manufacturing is a very broad business activity encompassing many specific industries. Regulations that apply to food manufacturers do not apply to clothing manufacturers. However, several environmental, workplace safety and tax regulations apply to most manufacturing activities, regardless of the goods produced.
The resources below provide starting points for learning about regulations that apply to your manufacturing business, and how to comply with them.
Environmental Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the impact of manufacturing businesses on the environment. Enforcement, permitting and monitory activities are delegated to state agencies
- Environmental Compliance: Industry Sector Guides
Directory of compliance assistance resources covering specific industry sectors. - Compliance Assistance Centers
Sponsored by the EPA, these centers provide comprehensive, easy to understand environmental compliance information, tools and best practices advice targeted specifically to industry sectors. - State-by-State Resource Locator
Directory of state contacts to help industry comply with environmental regulations. - Statues and Regulations by Business Sector
Provides information to specific business sectors on the environmental statutes and regulations that affect businesses within their field.
The Environmental Regulations Guide provides a directory of EPA resources that help EPA regulated businesses understand and comply with environmental regulations.
OSHA Regulations
Under the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm to your employees regardless of the size of your business. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established to create standards and regulations that implement the Act.
OSHA regulations are especially important when applied to manufacturing environments in which workplace hazards are common. The following resources were prepared by OSHA to help small manufacturers comply with workplace safety regulations:
- OSHA eTools
Interactive, Web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics. - Compliance Assistance Publications
Comprehensive resources on complying with OSHA regulations. - OSHA Recordkeeping Handbook
Rules for keeping recording, tracking and reporting workplace injuries. - Onsite Consultations
Free and confidential advice to help you comply with OSHA regulations.
Visit the Workplace Safety and Health Guide for a complete listing of OSHA requirements and resources.
Tax Regulations
The IRS Tax Guide for Manufacturing provides tax tips and trends and statistics for the manufacturing industry.
