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What is a variance?

Lapse in Appropriations

For workplace safety and health, please call 800-321-6742; for mine safety and health, please call 800-746-1553; for Job Corps, please call 800-733-5627 and for Wage and Hour, please call 1-866-487-9243 (1 866-4-US-WAGE).  This website is currently not being updated due to the suspension of Federal government services. The last update to the site was 10/1/2025.  Updates to the site will start again when the Federal government resumes operations.

When MSHA grants a petition for modification, the petitioner receives a variance. A variance is the right given to the petitioner, by MSHA, to vary or do something different than what an existing MSHA safety standard requires. Variances are available only for safety standards, not health standards.