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 Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1000, Air contaminants. Identifies hazardous chemicals many of which are potential reproductive hazards.
  • 1910.1020, Access to employee exposure and medical records. OSHA requires the reporting of employee exposure to hazardous chemicals and allows access to these records by employees.
  • 1910.1025, Lead. Describes guidelines for hazard protection from lead exposure including reproductive hazards. [related topic page]
    • Appendix A, Substance data sheet for occupational exposure to lead
    • Appendix B, Employee standard summary
    • Appendix C, Medical surveillance guidelines
  • 1910.1044, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane. Acknowledges exposure hazards to reproductive health and provides guidelines for partial protection from these risks.
    • Appendix A, Substance safety data sheet for DBCP
    • Appendix B, Substance technical guidelines for DBCP
    • Appendix C, Medical surveillance guidelines for DBCP
  • 1910.1047, Ethylene oxide. Provides guidelines for safe handling of ethylene oxide which includes hazard protection for reproductive health. [related topic page]
    • Appendix A, Substance safety data sheet for ethylene oxide (Non-mandatory)
    • Appendix B, Substance technical guidelines for ethylene oxide (Non-mandatory)
    • Appendix C, Medical surveillance guidelines for ethylene oxide (Non-mandatory)
  • 1910.1200, Hazard communication. In compliance with this standard, all personnel involved in any aspect of the handling of covered hazardous chemicals must receive information and training to appraise them of these hazards in the work area. [related topic page]

• Occupational Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene. Final Rules 61:56746-56856, (1996, November 4). Final standard revisions, include sections mentioning adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes.
• Occupational Exposure to 2-Methoxyethanol, 2-Ethoxyethanol and their Acetates (Glycol Ethers). Proposed Rules 54:15526-15632, (1993, March 23). Proposed standard revision for occupational exposure to Methoxyethanol, Ethoxyethanol and Glycol Ethers, to address specifically the adverse health effects on reproductive and developmental health.
• Search all available Federal Registers.

• Hazards of exposure to waste anesthetic gases, particularly fluothane. (1984, September 24). Current scientific evidence suggests that chronic exposure to anesthetic gases increases the risk of both spontaneous abortion and congenital abnormalities in offspring among female workers and wives of male workers.
• Search all available standard interpretations.