Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart F, Powered platforms, manlifts, and vehicle-mounted work platforms
  • 1910.66, Powered platforms for building maintenance
    • Appendix C, Personal fall arrest system (section I - Mandatory; sections II and III - Non-mandatory)
• 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials [related topic page]
  • 1910.109, Explosives and blasting agents
• 1910 Subpart N, Materials handling and storage
  • 1910.183, Helicopters
  • 1910.184, Slings
• 1910 Subpart R, Special industries
  • 1910.268, Telecommunications

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart A, General provisions
  • 1915.3, Responsibility
  • 1915.4, Definitions
  • 1915.7, Competent person
• 1915 Subpart B, Confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres in shipyard employment
  • 1915.11, Scope, applications, and definitions applicable to this subpart
  • 1915.12, Precautions and the order of testing before entering confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres
  • 1915.13, Cleaning and other cold work
  • 1915.14, Hot work
  • 1915.15, Maintenance of safe conditions
  • Appendix A, Compliance assistance guidelines for confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres
• 1915 Subpart C, Surface preparation and preservation
  • 1915.35, Painting
  • 1915.36, Flammable liquids
• 1915 Subpart D, Welding, cutting and heating
  • 1915.53, Welding, cutting and heating in way of preservative coatings
  • 1915.54, Welding, cutting and heating of hollow metal containers and structures not covered by 1915.12
  • 1915.57, Uses of fissionable material in ship repairing and shipbuilding
• 1915 Subpart E, Scaffolds, ladders and other working surfaces
  • 1915.71, Scaffolds or staging
• 1915 Subpart G, Gear and equipment for rigging and materials handling 
  • 1915.117, Qualifications of operators
• 1915 Subpart H, Tools and related equipment
  • 1915.135, Powder actuated fastening tools
  • 1915.136, Internal combustion engines, other than ship's equipment
• 1915 Subpart K, Portable, unfired pressure vessels, drums and containers, other than ship's equipment
  • 1915.172, Portable air receivers and other unfired pressure vessels
• 1915 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1915.1001, Asbestos
    • Appendix F, Work practices and engineering controls for class I asbestos operations - Non-mandatory

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)

• 1918 Subpart B, Gear certification
  • 1918.11, Gear certification (see also 1918.2, definition of "vessel's cargo handling gear" and 1918.51)
• 1918 Subpart J, Personal protective equipment
  • 1918.105, Other protective measures
    • Appendix I, Cargo gear register and certificates (Non-mandatory)

Gear Certification (29 CFR 1919)

• 1919.2, Definition of terms
• 1919.26, Visual inspection before tests
• 1919.27, Unit proof tests-winches, derricks and gear accessory thereto
• 1919.28, Unit proof tests-cranes and gear accessory thereto
• 1919.29, Limitations on safe working loads and proof loads
• 1919.30, Examinations subsequent to unit tests
• 1919.31, Proof tests-loose gear
• 1919.32, Specially designed blocks and components
• 1919.33, Proof tests-wire rope
• 1919.34, Proof tests after repairs or alterations
• 1919.35, Order of tests
• 1919.36, Heat treatment
• 1919.37, Competent persons

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart C, General safety and health provisions
  • 1926.20, General safety and health provisions
  • 1926.32, Definitions
• 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
  • 1926.53, Ionizing radiation
  • 1926.62, Lead
• 1926 Subpart E, Personal protective and life saving equipment
  • 1926.101, Hearing protection
• 1926 Subpart H, Materials handling, storage, use, and disposal
  • 1926.251, Rigging equipment for material handling
• 1926 Subpart J, Welding and cutting
  • 1926.354, Welding, cutting, and heating in way of preservative coatings
• 1926 Subpart K, Electrical
  • 1926.404, Wiring design and protection
• 1926 Subpart L, Scaffolds
  • 1926.450, Scope, application and definitions applicable to this subpart
  • 1926.451, General requirements
  • 1926.454, Training requirements
• 1926 Subpart M, Fall protection
  • 1926.500, Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart
  • 1926.502, Fall protection systems criteria and practices
  • 1926.503, Training requirements
  • Appendix C, Personal fall arrest systems - Non-mandatory guidelines for complying with 1926.502(d)
  • Appendix E, Sample fall protection plan - Non-mandatory guidelines for complying with 1926.502(k)
• 1926 Subpart N, Cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators, and conveyors
  • 1926.550, Cranes and derricks 
  • 1926.552, Material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators
• 1926 Subpart P, Excavations
  • 1926.650, Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart
  • 1926.651, Specific excavation requirements
  • 1926.652, Requirements for protective systems
  • Appendix A, Soil classification
  • Appendix B, Sloping and benching
• 1926 Subpart Q, Concrete and masonry construction
  • 1926.705, Requirements for lift-slab operations
• 1926 Subpart R, Steel erection
  • 1926.751, Definitions
  • 1926.752, Site layout, site-specific erection plan and construction sequence
• 1926 Subpart S, Underground construction, caissons, cofferdams, and compressed air
  • 1926.800, Underground construction
  • 1926.803, Compressed air
• 1926 Subpart T, Demolition [related topic page]
  • 1926.850, Preparatory operations
  • 1926.859, Mechanical demolition
• 1926 Subpart U, Blasting and the use of explosives
  • 1926.900, General provisions
• 1926 Subpart X, Ladders
  • 1926.1053, Ladders
  • 1926.1060, Training requirements
• 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1926.1101, Asbestos
    • Appendix F, Work practices and engineering controls for class I asbestos operations - Non-mandatory
  • 1926.1127, Cadmium

• Cadmium (1992)
  • IX. Summary and Explanation of the Final Standard (Construction Industries). Includes a definition of a competent person and rational for the requirement for a competent person.
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

• Inspection Procedures for Enforcing Subpart L, Scaffolds Used in Construction - 29 CFR 1926.450-454. CPL 02-01-023 [CPL 2.1.23], (1997, January 7). Appendix A contains information on the knowledge of and duties performed by a competent person.
• Inspection Procedures for Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Final Rule 29 CFR Parts 1910.1001, 1926.1101, and 1915.1001. CPL 02-02-063 [CPL 2.2.63], (1995, November 3). Contains competent person training requirements including a summary of EPA course requirements.
• Inspection Procedures for Enforcing the Excavation Standard, 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P. CPL 02-00-087 [CPL 2.87], (1990, February 20). Section H.4.b.2 provides direction on determining qualifications of the designated competent person.
• Search all available directives.

• Training and competency for oxygen-fuel gas welding equipment use. (1998, May 13). The workman in charge of a system may perform as a welder and welding operator to the extent that welding or cutting does not interfere with his or her responsibilities for safe operation.
• OSHA's requirement for certification for building roof anchor points & the "Certificate of Regulation Compliance Building" form. (1996, August 9). Competent person means a person because of training and experience, is capable of identifying hazardous or dangerous conditions in powered platform installations and of training employees to identify such conditions.
• Training requirements of the competent person for class II roofing work. (1996, April 2). Responds to a question of whether the competent person for class II roofing work must always attend a 5-day asbestos supervisory course.
• The assessment of craft technical skills. (1996, January 19). OSHA does not require tests to assess craft technical skills and knowledge. It is the responsibility of the employer to assure that their employees possess the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their tasks safely.
• Inspection of cranes used at a construction site. (1993, February 1). Contains a general clarification of requirements to be designated as a competent person for crane inspections.
• Rules addressing competent persons and qualified persons. (1992, April 15). Provides a definition of competent persons in construction, particularly for excavation.
• Powered platforms for building maintenance to "a permanently installed suspended scaffold". (1992, December 15). States that a competent person means a person who, because of training and experience, is capable of identifying hazardous and dangerous conditions in powered platform installations.
• Rear fly extension ladders manufactured by Keller Industries. (1992, April 16). Shows that a competent person would be knowledgeable about the placement requirements of rear-fly ladders.
• Clarification of (Excavation) Standards. (1991, January 9). Here, the competent person must be thoroughly knowledgeable of requirements or of the limitations of the manufactured system.
• Construction crane certifications. (1981, August 18). Responds to a letter concerning construction crane certifications and how a competent person must be capable and must have authority.
• Search all available standard interpretations.