OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster in Colorado Springs, Colorado (2026)
An OSHA inspection can result in citations and fines starting at $16,131 per violation if you fail to display the mandatory OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster. This is a federal requirement, also known as the OSHA mandatory posting notice, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and enforceable in Colorado Springs. The application is comprised of 14 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 12 of them with your business information. There is $0 government filing fee to obtain the poster itself, and processing timelines vary based on your chosen delivery method. Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 12 of 14 fields.
Analyzed from OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster
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Why You Need a OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster
Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), specifically Section 8(c)(3), all employers in Colorado Springs must display the official "Job Safety and Health - It's the Law" poster. The Colorado Springs Department of Public Health & Environment enforces workplace safety standards, and failure to display this poster is considered a basic violation of OSHA's posting requirements. This poster informs employees of their rights to a safe workplace and how to report hazards or file a complaint, satisfying the mandatory communication requirement.
Not having this poster correctly displayed can trigger direct penalties from OSHA or state inspectors. Common consequences include:
- Fines for Serious Violations: OSHA can cite employers for a failure to abate a violation, with daily penalties accruing until the poster is posted.
- Increased Scrutiny: A missing mandatory poster can prompt a more detailed safety inspection, identifying other potential violations.
- Insurance and Lease Complications: Property insurers or landlords may flag non-compliance as a breach of safety covenants, potentially impacting your policy or lease agreement.
- Employee Complaints: Workers who cannot see their rights posted may be more likely to file a complaint directly with OSHA, initiating an investigation.
Legal code: Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act)
Recent update: As of 2026, OSHA updated the poster design to include simplified language and a new QR code linking to additional resources; employers must display the current 2026 version.
Who Needs a OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required for virtually all establishments as they have employees and are covered by the OSH Act, per 29 U.S.C. §651 and OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1903.2. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required if you have one or more employees, as these businesses are not exempt from the OSH Act's general industry standards. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required if you have employees; mobile food establishments are covered workplaces under federal OSHA jurisdiction unless a state plan applies. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required if you have any employees, as retail food service establishments are covered by OSHA's posting requirements. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (14 Fields)
12 of 14 auto-filledBusiness has employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you have any employees, including part-time, seasonal, or temporary workers; select 'No' only if you are a sole proprietor with zero employees (this is the trigger for whether the OSHA posting requirement applies to your business).
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have any paid employees, which can lead to a compliance failure and associated penalties.
Total number of employees
numberEnter the exact total number of individuals on your payroll, including part-time, full-time, seasonal, and temporary workers; you can find this figure in your payroll records or from your most recent quarterly tax filings.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering an incorrect or estimated count, or failing to include all categories of workers, which can misrepresent your business size and requirements.
Primary workplace address
addressEnter the complete physical street address (not a P.O. Box) of your main restaurant location where the majority of your employees report to work; use the address exactly as it appears on your business license or lease agreement.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a home office address, a mailing address, or an incomplete address, which OSHA may not recognize as the valid workplace for inspection or compliance purposes.
Has multiple work locations
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you operate more than one physical restaurant or workplace where employees work (e.g., a second kitchen, a food truck base, a separate prep facility); if 'No,' you only need to account for your primary address.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have satellite locations, which means you won't be prompted to list them and could miss posting requirements for those sites.
Additional workplace locations
textIf you have multiple work locations, list each additional complete street address where employees work, separated by commas; include kitchens, prep areas, or satellite units even if they share management.
COMMON MISTAKE: Providing incomplete addresses, omitting locations, or listing only the primary address again, which can lead to non-compliance at unlisted worksites.
Spanish version needed
booleanSelect 'Yes' if any of your employees primarily speak or read Spanish, as OSHA requires the poster be displayed in a language employees understand; if all employees are fluent only in English, select 'No.'
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have Spanish-speaking staff, which violates the 'language understood' rule and can trigger fines during an OSHA inspection.
Other language requirements
textIf you have employees who primarily speak a language other than English or Spanish (e.g., Vietnamese, Mandarin, Arabic), list those languages here so you can source the appropriate translated OSHA poster.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this blank when you have non-English/Spanish speaking workers, which is a common oversight that leads to posting violations.
Poster downloaded from OSHA website
booleanSelect 'Yes' once you have successfully downloaded the official 'Job Safety and Health - It's the Law' poster (2026 version) from www.osha.gov/publications/poster; select 'No' if you haven't yet.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' without verifying the poster is the current 2026 version, as using an outdated poster does not fulfill the legal requirement.
Poster printed
booleanSelect 'Yes' after you have physically printed the downloaded poster on letter-sized paper (8.5" x 11") or larger; select 'No' if it's still only a digital file.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' when the poster is printed in a size smaller than required or with low ink quality, making it illegible and non-compliant.
Where poster will be displayed
textDescribe the exact, prominent location where the poster will be posted (e.g., 'Employee break room bulletin board,' 'Kitchen entrance next to time clock,' 'Back office near schedules'), ensuring it's a place all employees frequent.
COMMON MISTAKE: Vague descriptions like 'in the kitchen' or choosing a location not accessible to all employees (e.g., manager's office), which fails the 'conspicuous place' standard.
ApronPrep auto-fills 12 of 14 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster Mistakes
1. Posting an Outdated or Generic Version
Displaying a poster from the OSHA national office or a version predating 2023, which lacks updated injury reporting information. Federal OSHA updated the poster in 2022; using an old version is a citable violation. Always download the current 'Job Safety and Health - It's the Law' poster directly from the federal OSHA website to ensure compliance.
2. Failing to Post in a Conspicuous, Employee-Accessible Location
Placing the poster in a back office, break room, or other area not frequented by all employees. OSHA inspectors check for prominent placement where all workers can see it, like a main hallway or near time clocks. Not having it in a visible location can trigger a fine during an inspection, even if you have the poster on file.
3. Not Posting in Languages Your Employees Understand
Posting only the English version when a significant portion of your workforce speaks another primary language. Under OSHA's guidance, if a substantial number of workers are not proficient in English, you must provide the poster in a language they understand. Download and post the Spanish or other translated versions available on OSHA's website alongside the English one.
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OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster by City in Colorado
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | ||
| Colorado Springs | ||
| Denver |
Timeline: Varies
Download the Correct Poster from OSHA.gov
Visit OSHA.gov's 'Posters' webpage to access the official 'OSHA Job Safety and Health – It’s the Law' poster. Select the current 2026 edition (OSHA 3165 or 3167). You must display the English or a bilingual (English/Spanish) version. Do not download posters from third-party vendors that may be outdated or non-compliant; only the official poster from OSHA.gov meets the legal requirement.
Print and Post in Your Workplace
Print the poster on at least 8.5 x 11-inch paper. It must be posted in a conspicuous location where all employees can easily see it, such as a central break room, time clock area, or main entrance. In Colorado Springs, if you have Spanish-speaking employees, you must provide either the bilingual poster or a Spanish copy (OSHA 3167). Posting is required even before your first employee starts work.
Prepare for Documentation and Employee Training
While the poster itself does not require an application or filing, this step involves integrating it into your safety program. Keep a record of the poster version and posting date in your compliance files. Use the poster as a reference point for employee safety training, as OSHA inspectors will verify it is posted and may ask about its role in your safety communication. Many initial OSHA citations stem from missing or outdated posters.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Colorado.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation)
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsProcessing time varies—there is no formal application or approval process. You are responsible for obtaining and posting the correct version immediately upon hiring employees, per federal OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1903.2). Your City Business License/Registration or opening timeline should trigger this action; treat it as a Day 1 requirement.
The government filing fee for the OSHA poster is $0–$0. Employers can download the official English or Spanish poster for free from the federal OSHA website or order a printed copy for a small fee from OSHA-approved vendors. Not legal advice—verify current poster requirements with the U.S. Department of Labor.
No, the poster is not 'transferred' as it is not a location-specific permit. If you move your business within Colorado Springs, you simply need to ensure the poster is displayed at the new worksite. Other location-dependent items, like your Building Permit or Certificate of Occupancy, must be addressed separately for the new address.
You do not renew a poster. You must replace it whenever OSHA updates the mandatory content, which happens periodically. As of 2026, the current version is dated. Employers are responsible for checking the OSHA website for updates, as posting an outdated version is a citable violation during an inspection.
An OSHA compliance officer will check for the poster's presence, correct version, and prominent display in a common area where all employees can see it. Failure to post it can result in a citation and fine (currently up to $15,625 per violation, per OSHA's 2026 penalty structure). The inspection may also cover related safety programs and records.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Colorado specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 14 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act)
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