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]
  • 1910.1001, Asbestos
    • Appendix A, OSHA reference method - Mandatory
    • Appendix B, Detailed procedure for asbestos sampling and analysis - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix C, Qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures - Mandatory
    • Appendix D, Medical questionnaires; Mandatory
    • Appendix E, Interpretation and classification of chest roentgenograms - Mandatory
    • Appendix F, Work practices and engineering controls for automotive brake and clutch inspection, disassembly, repair and assembly - Mandatory
    • Appendix G, Substance technical information for asbestos - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix H, Medical surveillance guidelines for asbestos - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix I, Smoking cessation program information For asbestos - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix J, Polarized light microscopy of asbestos - Non-mandatory (Also see: Inorganic Method - Asbestos (Bulks); ID-191

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1915.1001, Asbestos
    • Appendix A, OSHA reference method - Mandatory
    • Appendix B, Detailed procedure for asbestos sampling and analysis - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix C, Qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures - Mandatory
    • Appendix D, Medical questionnaires; Mandatory
    • Appendix E, Interpretation and classification of chest roentgenograms - Mandatory
    • Appendix F, Work practices and engineering controls for class I asbestos operations - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix G, [Reserved]
    • Appendix H, Substance technical information for asbestos - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix I, Medical surveillance guidelines for asbestos - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix J, Smoking cessation program information for asbestos - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix K, Polarized light microscopy of asbestos - Non-mandatory (Also see: Inorganic Method - Asbestos (Bulks); ID-191
    • Appendix L, Work practices and engineering controls for automotive brake and clutch inspection, disassembly, repair and assembly - Mandatory

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1926.1101, Asbestos
    • Appendix A, OSHA Reference method - Mandatory
    • Appendix B, Sampling and analysis - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix C, Qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures - Mandatory
    • Appendix D, Medical questionnaires; Mandatory
    • Appendix E, Interpretation and classification of chest roentgenograms - Mandatory
    • Appendix F, Work practices and engineering controls for Class I Asbestos operations - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix G, [Reserved]
    • Appendix H, Substance technical information for asbestos - Non-mandatory
    • Appendix I, Medical surveillance guidelines for asbestos, non-mandatory
    • Appendix J, Smoking cessation program information for asbestos, Non-mandatory
    • Appendix K, Polarized light microscopy of asbestos - Non-mandatory

Preambles to Final Rules

• Asbestos (1994 - Amended)
• Asbestos (1992 - Original)
• Asbestos (1988 - Original)
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

Federal Registers

• Asbestos in Construction Standard; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements. Notice 70:62002-62003, (2005, October 27).
• The Asbestos in Shipyards Standard; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements. Notice 70:62003-62005, (2005, October 27).
• Search all available Federal Registers.

• Inspection Procedures for Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Final Rule 29 CFR Parts 1910.1001, 1926.1101, and 1915.1001. CPL 02-02-063 [CPL 2-2.63], (1996, January 9). The appendices of this directive include a summary of OSHA asbestos regulations (you must obtain a printed copy to view the helpful "Job Class Requirements" table), OSHA and  EPA training requirements, questions and answers, and settlement agreements (roofing, flooring, etc.).
• Search all available directives.

Asbestos removal

• Application of the asbestos standard to demolition of buildings with ACM in place. (2002, August 26). Discusses OSHA requirements when demolishing buildings with ACM left in place.
• Potential Asbestos Contamination in Soft Concrete. Hazard Information Bulletin (HIB), (1998, October 8). Alerts construction workers and employers to the hazard posed by "soft concrete", a mixture of asbestos/concrete, that was used as a 2 to 10 inch roofing layer. The removal of this type of soft concrete is a task that requires extensive precautions and control methods as prescribed by OSHA Construction standard 29 CFR 1926.1101(g), Methods of compliance, and the revised 29 CFR 1926.1101(h), Respiratory protection. Other sections of 29 CFR 1926.1101 are also applicable.
• Responsibility of each person involved in Class I glovebag removal operations. (1997, September 18).
• Glove bag methods for control of exposure to airborne asbestos. (1997, May 15).
• Clarification of Asbestos standard. (1996, August 26). Provides clarification concerning asbestos-containing paint.
• Power Roof Cutter on a Built-up Roof. (1996, July 15).
• Glove bag use. (1996, May 22).
• The use of "pipe cases" manufactured by Therm-Equip, Inc., in lieu of standard glove bags. (1995, December 15). States that the use of "pipe cases" complies with the asbestos standard for the removal of asbestos from high-temperature (up to 700 degrees F) pipes and ducts.
• Negative exposure assessment for 1926.1101. (1995, December 4).
• OSHA's requirements for asbestos removal bags. (1994, November 17).
• High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters For Vacuum Cleaning Equipment. (1990, September 6). States that "cold" DOP aerosol is not acceptable for use in testing and certifying the efficiency of HEPA filters.
• Portam Process asbestos abatement equipment use for asbestos removal. (1990, August 23). OSHA does not approve or certify equipment or processes for use in the workplace. This does discuss OSHA's intent.
• Red Baron Negative Air Enclosure System. (1990, May 3),.
• Effectiveness of the Glove Box for removal of asbestos-containing pipe insulation. (1990, April 4).

Sampling & analysis, and characteristics of asbestos-containing materials

• Sheetrock and joint compound. (1997, April 28). States that OSHA regards sheetrock (drywall) and joint compound as separate materials.
• Compliance with OSHA's Asbestos Standard - Composite Bulk Samples. (1997, February 7).
• OSHA Asbestos Standard. (1996, March 4). Answers several questions concerning the general industry asbestos standard.
• Clarification of Asbestos Standard for construction. (1996, June 28). Sampling of bulk materials.
• Exposure monitoring requirements. (1993, August 19). Equivalent methods and samplers. States that the exposure monitoring requirements be evaluated using the OSHA Reference Method (ORM). If an alternative method to the ORM is used, certain criteria must be met.
• Reporting limits for Asbestos air concentrations. (1991, August 28). Discusses what limit to report for asbestos analysis.
• NIOSH 582 training requirements relating to asbestos analysis slides. (1991, August 28). States that person preparing slides for asbestos analysis need not be 582 trained, but the person reading the slides is required to be trained.
• OSHA requires a minimum of 2 and at least 10% blanks be taken for all samples regardless of purpose. (1990, May 4). States that whenever either of the major asbestos methods are used, blanks are required to be used.
• Recommended changes for asbestos sampling from SLCAL. (1989, April 26). Discusses the sampling differences between the 37 mm cassette and the 25 mm cassette.
• Clarification of the requirement for representative monitoring under the asbestos standard for construction. (1987, September 8).
• Definition of "statistically reliable measurements" in 1926.58(f) (4). (1987, August 20).

Friction materials, including brakes

• The protection of employees working with automotive brakes. (1995, December 11). Addresses the control of asbestos fibers during the inspection process, during the use of aerosol products, and when asbestos fibers have contaminated the working surface of the repair or inspection area of the establishment.
• The use of solvent aerosol for controlling exposure to asbestos during automotive brake repair. (1995, September 29). Discusses the required work practices for the use of solvent aerosol.
• Asbestos in the car repair industry. (1995, March 22). Discusses OSHA's revised Asbestos Standard as it pertains to asbestos in the car repair industry.

Building evaluation and use

• OSHA Asbestos Standard. (1997, February 5).
• Questions concerning OSHA's Asbestos Standard. (1996, September 5). Answers a variety of questions regarding the asbestos standard.
• In multi-story buildings "employee notice" requirement of asbestos standard. (1996, March 19).
• Building and/or facility owner notification requirements. (1996, February 21). Discusses building and/or facility owner notification requirements in OSHA's General Industry Asbestos Standard.
• The requirements of a building owner for conducting a survey, and the labeling of asbestos materials under the OSHA asbestos standard. (1996, February 16). The survey should be an evaluation of each building and the standard does not require that samples be taken during the survey, unless the owner is trying to demonstrate that no asbestos is present in the building.
• OSHA Asbestos Standard. (1996, January 24). Discusses clarification on three issues related to the asbestos standard: warning labels and signs, training for Class III workers, and when working at costumer locations.
• (OSHA) revised asbestos standard. (1995, May 8). Discusses three issues: the training required for a floor maintenance worker, the requirement to identify asbestos-containing floors, and the possible OSHA penalties for non-compliance.
• Smoking and occupational exposure to asbestos. (1990, September 4). Provides guidance concerning the intent of the new regulations on smoking and occupational exposure to asbestos.

Worker protection

• Clarification of OSHA's risk assessment and approach for setting the asbestos PEL. (1999, July 23). Provides clarification of the rational OSHA used to set the current PEL.
• Classification of asbestos work for employees performing asbestos inspections and obtaining bulk samples. (1997, April 28)
• Employee safety and the laundering of contaminated clothing. (1997, April 1). Discusses how contaminated work clothes should be washed.
• Training requirements of the competent person for Class II roofing work. (1996, April 2).
• Training requirements for Class II roofing work. (1996, February 29).
• Regulation on OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Asbestos. (1995, May 9). Discusses which standard applies to workers engaged in telecommunications work.
• After changing protective clothing for a lunch break, it should not be reused for the balance of the shift. (1993, June 21).
• Trailer mounted vacuum system and bagging station used in asbestos abatement. (1990, August 10).
• Asbestos and the Hazard Communication Standard. (1989, December 26).
• Interpretation of 1926.58, Training and Medical Surveillance as Condition of Employment. (1989, December 13).
• Respirator fit testing requirements in the revised asbestos standard. (1986, September 25). Discusses when qualitative fit testing of full-face-piece respirator is considered to be in accord with the asbestos standard.
• Evaluation of X-rays and pulmonary function tests for early diagnosis of lung disease. (1985, February 4). Discusses the notification of employees of medical test results.

Other topics

• Asbestos Standard for Construction. (1996, September 4). Discusses when the construction standard or the general standard applies during cleanup of asbestos.
• HAZWOPER and Asbestos standards apply to any emergency response to an uncontrolled hazardous substance release involving the presence of asbestos. (1994, April 26). Provides clarification on the use of direct reading instruments during the initial response phase to an emergency release of asbestos.

• Search all available standard interpretations.