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 I, Personal protective equipment [related topic page]
  • 1910.134, Respiratory protection [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart S, Electrical [related topic page]
  • 1910.307, Hazardous (classified) locations
• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1000, Air contaminants
    • Table Z-1, Limits for air contaminants. OSHA regulates wood dust exposure under the requirements for Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR).
  • 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]

• Air Contaminants (1989)
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

• Hazard Communication. Final Rules 59:6126-6184, (1994, February 9). Includes a number of minor changes and technical amendments to further clarify the requirements, and thereby help ensure full compliance and achieve protection for employees, it also contains a section on wood dust.
• Search all available Federal Registers.

• Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (Reissued). CPL 03-00-008, (2008, March 11). Contains policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that create or handle combustible dusts.
• Search all available directives.

• Clarification of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard with regards to the carcinogenicity of wood dust. (1995, October 11).
• OSHA's hazard communication requirements for the wood products you sell. (1994, December 5).
• Wood dust sampling. (1993, April 22).
• Regulating employee exposure to wood dust. (1989, June 6). 
• Coverage of wood dust under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). (1987, December 7).
• Response to request for new PEL for wood dusts. (1985, June 12).
• Search all available standard interpretations.