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.

• 1904, Recording and reporting occupational injuries and illness. Prescribes that employers covered under this act maintain records of job-related injuries and illnesses to allow for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational accidents and illnesses, and for maintaining a program of collection, compilation, and analysis of occupational safety and health statistics. [related topic page]

Rules Concerning OSHA Access to Employee Medical Records (29 CFR 1913)

• 1913.10, Rules of agency practice and procedure concerning OSHA access to employee medical records. Allows OSHA access to employee medical records that may be needed for epidemiological studies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1001, Asbestos [related topic page]
    • 1910.1001(m)(1)(iii)
  • 1910.1017, Vinyl chloride
    • 1910.1017(m)(2)(i)(C)
  • 1910.1018, Inorganic arsenic [related topic page]
    • 1910.1018(q)(1)(iii) 
  • 1910.1020, Access to employee exposure and medical records. Applies to general industry, maritime, and construction employers. The employer is responsible to maintain records for each employee for at least the duration of employment plus thirty (30) years.
  • 1910.1025, Lead [related topic page]
    • 1910.1025(n)(1)(iii)
  • 1910.1026, Chromium (VI) [related topic page]
  • 1910.1027, Cadmium [related topic page]
    • 1910.1027(n)(3)(iii)
  • 1910.1028, Benzene [related topic page]
    • 1910.1028(k)(1)(iii)
  • 1910.1029, Coke oven emissions
    • 1910.1029(m)(1)(ii)
  • 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens [related topic page]
    • 1910.1030(h)(1)(iv)
  • 1910.1044, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane
    • 1910.1044(p)(1)(iii)
  • 1910.1045, Acrylonitrile
    • 1910.1045(q)(2)(iii)
  • 1910.1047, Ethylene oxide [related topic page]
    • 1910.1047(k)(2)(iii)
  • 1910.1048, Formaldehyde [related topic page]
    • 1910.1048(o)(5)(ii)
  • 1910.1050, Methylenedianiline
    • 1910.1050(n)(3)(iii)
  • 1910.1051, 1,3-Butadiene [related topic page]
    • 1910.1051(m)(2)(iii) 
  • 1910.1052, Methylene chloride [related topic page]
    • 1910.1052(m)(2)(iv) 
  • 1910.1450, Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories. Monitoring and recordkeeping was mandated because of epidemiologic concerns.

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart Z, Hazardous and toxic substances
  • 1915.1001, Asbestos
    • 1915.1001(n)(2)(iii)
  • 1915.1026, Chromium (VI)

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
  • 1926.60, Methylenedianiline
    • 1926.60(o)(4)(iii)
  • 1926.62, Lead
    • 1926.62(n)(4)(ii)
• 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1926.1101, Asbestos
    • 1926.1101(n)(2)(iii)
  • 1926.1126, Chromium (VI)
  • 1926.1127, Cadmium
    • 1926.1127(n)(l)(iii)

• Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium. Final Rules 71:10099-10385, (2006, February 28).
• Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis; Proposed Rule; Termination of Rulemaking Respiratory Protection for M. Tuberculosis; Final Rule; Revocation. Proposed Rules 68:75767-75775, (2003, December 31).
• Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis. Notice 67:9934-9935, (2002, March 5).
• Search all available Federal Registers.

• OSHA Support of NIOSH "FACE" Program. CPL 02-00-134 [CPL 2.96], (2004, January 26). Describes NIOSH FACE research study, which focuses on case identification and epidemiologic investigation of fatal occupational injuries as a result of falls, electrocutions, and confined spaces. Provides guidelines for the cooperation of OSHA with the NIOSH FACE Program.
• National Emphasis Program: Lead. CPL 02-00-130 [CPL 2-0.130], (2001, July 20).
• Changes to the Regulatory and General Industry Standard Alleged Violation Elements (SAVEs) Manual. CPL 02-00-035 [CPL 2.35 CH-21], (1992, October 21).
• Search all available directives.