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 E, Exit routes, emergency action plans, and fire prevention plans
  • 1910.38, Emergency action plans [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials [related topic page]
  • 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response [related topic page]
    • 1910.120(q), Emergency response program to hazardous substance releases
• 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment
  • 1910.132, General requirements [related topic pages]
  • 1910.134, Respiratory protection [related topic page]
    • Appendix A, Fit testing procedures (Mandatory)
    • Appendix B-1, User seal check procedures (Mandatory)
    • Appendix B-2, Respiratory cleaning procedures (Mandatory)
    • Appendix C, OSHA respirator medical evaluation questionnaire (Mandatory)
    • Appendix D, Information for employees using respirators when not required under standard (Mandatory)

• Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (1989)
  • Intro to 29 CFR Part 1910, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
  • I. Background
  • II. Summary and Explanation of the Standard
  • VII. State Plan States
  • VIII. Federal and State Coverage of the Public Sector and Volunteers
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

• Inspection Procedures for 29 CFR 1910.120 and 1926.65, Paragraph (q): Emergency Response to Hazardous Substance Releases. CPL 02-02-073, (2007, August 27). Also available as a 444 KB PDF, 119 pages. Updates enforcement procedures for compliance officers who need to conduct inspections of emergency response operations. It defines additional terms and expands on training requirements for emergency responders and other groups such as skilled support personnel. This OSHA instruction revises CPL 02-02-059, issued April 24, 1998.
• Search all available directives.