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 [related topic page]
  • 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1001, Asbestos [related topic page]
  • 1910.1018, Inorganic arsenic [related topic page]
  • 1910.1025, Lead [related topic page]
  • 1910.1026, Chromium (VI) [related topic page]
  • 1910.1027, Cadmium [related topic page]
  • 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens [related topic page]
  • 1910.1044, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane
  • 1910.1045, Acrylonitrile
  • 1910.1050, Methylenedianiline

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
  • 1926.55, Gases, vapor, fumes, dusts, and mists
  • 1926.60, Methylenedianiline
  • 1926.62, Lead
• 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1926.1101, Asbestos
  • 1926.1127, Cadmium

• Air Contaminants (1989)
  • IV. Overview of Rulemaking. OSHA concludes that extension of this rulemaking [Air Contaminants] to include consideration of surface contamination limits is not appropriate.
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

• OSHA standards do not include surface contamination criteria or quantifications for skin absorption. (1985, June 21). Currently there are no OSHA standards that specify surface contamination exposure limits. However, standards do require appropriate provision of personal protective equipment, housekeeping, decontamination, and related procedures to control surface contamination hazards.
• Search through all standard interpretations.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• 40 CFR 761.125, Requirements for PCB spill cleanup. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR). Sections (c)(3) and (c)(4) contain information pertinent to surface contamination.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• E1216-99, Standard Practice for Sampling for Surface Particulate Contamination by Tape Lift. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Provides a procedure for sampling surfaces with pressure sensitive tape to determine the presence of particulate contamination, 5 µm and larger.