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 H, Hazardous materials
  • 1910.119, Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals [related topic page]
  • 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response [related topic page]

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
  • 1926.64, Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals
  • 1926.65, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response

Basic Program Elements for Federal Employees OSHA (29 CFR 1960)

• 1960 Subpart B
  • 1960.11, Evaluation of occupational safety and health performance
• 1960 Subpart F
  • 1960.36, General provisions
• 1960 Subpart H
  • 1960.54, Training of top management officials
  • 1960.59, Training of employees and employee representatives

• 1960 Subpart J
  • 1960.79, Self-evaluations of occupational safety and health programs
  • 1960.80, Secretary's evaluations of agency occupational safety and health programs

• Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines. Notice 54:3904-3916, (1989, January 26). OSHA issued guidelines that consist of safety and health management practices that are used by employers who are successful in protecting the safety and health of their employees.
• Search all available Federal Registers.

• Federal Agency Safety and Health Programs. FAP 01-00-003 [FAP 1.3], (1996, May 17). Identifies policies that are unique to Federal Agency Safety and Health Programs.
• Search all available directives.