OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster in Memphis, Tennessee (2026)
An OSHA inspection that finds you missing the mandatory federal "Job Safety and Health - It's the Law" workplace poster can result in immediate fines and a citation for failure to post required notices. This is a mandatory federal requirement issued by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and must be displayed by all covered employers in Memphis. Also known as the OSHA posting notice or safety rights poster, this is a core compliance item for all establishments with employees. Key facts:
- 14 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 12
- $0–$0 government filing fees (poster is free)
- Varies — must be displayed upon hiring first employee
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
The requirement to post the "Job Safety and Health - It's the Law" poster in Memphis restaurants stems from federal law. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), specifically its general duty clause (29 USC 654(a)(1)), mandates employers provide a workplace free from recognized hazards and comply with OSHA standards. The poster itself is required by OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1903.2(a), which states that employers must display it in a conspicuous place where all employees can see it. In Tennessee, which operates under federal OSHA jurisdiction, this federal requirement applies directly to your Memphis establishment—the City of Memphis does not issue its own version.
Failure to post this mandatory workplace notice can trigger immediate penalties and compound other compliance risks during an inspection. Consequences include:
- Direct fines for a posting violation, which can be cited as an independent violation.
- Increased likelihood of other violations: An inspector who sees a missing poster may conduct a more thorough review, uncovering issues like improper chemical labeling or missing injury logs.
- Insurance and lease complications: A citation for failing to post required safety notices can be used by insurers to argue against a claim or by a landlord as evidence of non-compliance with lease covenants to obey all laws.
Legal code: Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act)
Recent update: The mandatory poster was updated by OSHA in 2026 to include new worker rights information; displaying the outdated 2020 version is a citable violation.
Who Needs a OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) of 1970, as you have employees and operate a physical establishment where work is performed. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required under the OSH Act for any employer with one or more employees, which includes staff such as bartenders, servers, and security. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required because it is a mobile workplace with employees; OSHA jurisdiction applies to private sector employers regardless of a fixed location. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required if you have any employees; the OSHA poster must be displayed to inform workers of their rights to a safe workplace. |
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
booleanEnter 'Yes' if you have any employees, including part-time, temporary, or family members, as the OSHA poster requirement applies to all employers with one or more employees.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have employees, which is a direct violation of OSHA's posting requirement and can trigger a penalty during an inspection.
Total number of employees
numberEnter the exact count of all individuals you employ, as this determines your size classification for OSHA recordkeeping and can influence inspection priority.
COMMON MISTAKE: Reporting an inaccurate count, which can lead to compliance issues with other OSHA regulations like injury and illness logging (required for employers with 11+ employees).
Primary workplace address
addressEnter the complete physical street address of your main restaurant location, as this is where OSHA would expect the primary poster to be displayed and where correspondence is sent.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a P.O. Box, a corporate office address in another city, or an incomplete address, which fails to identify the actual worksite for compliance verification.
Has multiple work locations
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you operate the restaurant from more than one physical address, such as a separate kitchen prep facility or a secondary dining location.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have multiple locations, which means you would fail to acquire and post the required OSHA notice at all employee worksites.
Additional workplace locations
textIf you have multiple locations, list the complete addresses of all other sites where employees work, separated by commas or on new lines.
COMMON MISTAKE: Listing only the city or a partial address, which is insufficient for compliance—OSHA requires a poster at each distinct, complete worksite address.
Spanish version needed
booleanSelect 'Yes' if any employees at this location primarily speak or read Spanish, as OSHA mandates the poster be in a language employees understand.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when Spanish-speaking employees are present, which violates OSHA's communication standard (29 CFR 1903.2(a)) and can result in a citation.
Other language requirements
textIf you have employees who do not understand English or Spanish, list the primary languages here (e.g., 'Vietnamese, Arabic') to identify if other OSHA-translated posters are needed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving blank when non-English/Spanish speakers are present; OSHA requires the poster be comprehensible to all employees, so you must obtain the correct translated version.
Poster downloaded from OSHA website
booleanConfirm you have obtained the official 'Job Safety and Health - It's the Law' poster (2026 version) from www.osha.gov/publications/poster, as using outdated or unofficial versions is non-compliant.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' without verifying the poster is the 2026 edition; using a pre-2026 poster lacks current contact information and is a common compliance failure.
Poster printed
booleanConfirm the OSHA poster has been printed at the required size (at least 8.5 x 11 inches) on durable material, ready for display in a prominent location.
COMMON MISTAKE: Printing the poster too small, in low-resolution, or on flimsy paper that can't be read easily, which does not meet the 'conspicuous' posting requirement.
Where poster will be displayed
textDescribe the exact, conspicuous location where the poster is placed, such as 'on the bulletin board next to the time clock in the employee break room.'
COMMON MISTAKE: Vague descriptions like 'in the back' or selecting a location not frequented by all employees (e.g., manager's office), which violates the 'readily visible' standard in 29 CFR 1903.2.
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 Non-Compliant Version of the Poster
Posting an older version of the poster (e.g., from before 2026) that lacks required employer contact information or updated rights language. Federal OSHA can cite you for non-compliance during an inspection, which can lead to fines starting at $15,625 per violation under the OSH Act. Always download the current mandatory poster directly from the official OSHA.gov publications page to ensure it's the legally required version.
2. Failing to Complete the Employer Information Section
Leaving the 'Employer Name and Address' and 'Call to Report Injuries' sections at the bottom of the poster blank. An incomplete poster fails to inform employees of their rights to report work-related injuries and illnesses, which is a core requirement. This omission is a common citation item. Use a permanent marker or printed label to legibly fill in your business's Memphis address and a valid phone number (e.g., 901-XXX-XXXX) where employees can report incidents.
3. Placing the Poster in an Inaccessible or Non-Conspicuous Location
Putting the poster in a break room that is locked after hours, a manager's office, or a low-traffic area where employees cannot readily see it. Per OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1903.2(a), the poster must be displayed where all employees can see it. A violation can delay resolution if an employee needs to reference their rights. Post it in a central, common area like the main kitchen entrance, time clock area, or employee bulletin board that is accessible during all working hours.
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OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law Poster by City in Tennessee
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | ||
| Memphis | ||
| Nashville |
Process Timeline: Posting Requirements
Access the Current Poster
Download the free, federally-required 'OSHA Job Safety and Health - It's the Law' poster directly from the OSHA.gov website. You are required by federal law (29 CFR 1903.2(a)) to display this poster, and using the latest version from OSHA ensures compliance. Many application delays occur because restaurant owners download outdated posters or pay for posters on third-party sites; the only authoritative source is OSHA.gov.
Print the Poster
Print the downloaded poster on a single 8.5” x 11” sheet or a larger, more readable size. The law requires it be displayed in a conspicuous place where notices to employees are customarily posted. Laminating the poster is recommended for durability in a kitchen environment, as it prevents grease and moisture damage. Ensure the print quality is high enough for all text and logos to be clearly legible.
Post in Required Location
Physically post the printed poster in your restaurant where employees are most likely to see it, such as a break room, near time clocks, or a main hallway. This is a mandatory step for all employers covered by the OSH Act. The most common mistake is posting it in a manager's office or back-of-house area that employees do not frequent; this does not satisfy the 'conspicuous place' requirement.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Tennessee.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Alcohol Server Training Certification
state
Annual Report Filing
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsYou receive the poster immediately. This is a federal requirement under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, not a locally processed application. You download or order the free, current version directly from the federal OSHA website or approved distributors, with no approval wait time from the City of Memphis.
The official poster itself has a $0 government filing fee from OSHA. Employers must display the most recent version (currently 2026). Some third-party compliance kits or laminating services charge, but the core federal poster is free. Not legal advice — verify requirements with OSHA or the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
Yes, the physical poster itself can be moved. However, if you open a new restaurant location, you must display the poster at that new site. You should also review all location-specific workplace safety postings, as you may need a separate City Business License/Registration for the new address, which involves a different compliance process.
You must update the poster whenever OSHA releases a revised version, not on a fixed annual calendar. The current 2026 version supersedes all previous ones. There is no formal 'renewal' with a local agency, but failing to display the current poster can trigger fines during an inspection. Check the OSHA website annually for updates.
An OSHA or Tennessee OSHA (TOSHA) compliance officer will check for the poster's presence, its correct version (2026), and that it's posted in a conspicuous area where employees can see it. This is often part of a broader workplace safety inspection. Non-compliance can result in fines, and inspectors may also check related requirements like your Backflow Prevention Device Certification for health code adherence.
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 Tennessee specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville), 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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