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.

• 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials [related topic page]
  • 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response. Direct-reading instruments are an important element of the monitoring program outlined by this standard. [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart J, General environmental controls
  • 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces. Confined spaces must be tested before entry with a direct-reading instrument for oxygen content, flammable gases and vapors, and toxic contaminants. [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart R, Special industries
  • 1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution. Direct-reading instruments are required to test for oxygen-deficient atmospheres and flammable gases and vapors. [related topic page]
  • 1910.272, Grain handling facilities. Requires that the atmospheres of bins, silos, and tanks are tested before entry. [related topic page]
    • Appendix A, Grain handling facilities. It specifically states that direct-reading instruments should be used to periodically monitor atmospheres in bins, silos, and tanks.

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart B, Confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres
  • 1915.12, Precautions and the order of testing before entering confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres. Includes similar requirements to 29 CFR 1910.146.

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
  • 1926.65, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response. Contains requirements identical to 29 CFR 1910.120 regarding direct-reading instruments used in construction.

• Interpretation concerning 1910.120 requirements for air monitoring, a site safety and health plan, training, and medical surveillance. (1988, August 19). Identifies colorimetric indicator tubes as a useful and acceptable approach for selected hazardous substances as a component of the air monitoring plan tailored to site specific conditions.

• EPA/Labor Superfund Health and Safety Task Force: OSHA Audits of Superfund Sites from 1993 to 1996. OSHA, (1997, August 25).
• OSHA Compliance Issues: Correcting Common Health And Safety Program Deficiencies At Remediation Sites. OSHA, (1996, June). Includes some discussion regarding the appropriate use of direct-reading instruments.
• Summary report on OSHA inspections conducted at superfund incinerator sites. OSHA, (1993, September 16). Describes inspections that evaluated the use of direct-reading methods as part of the exposure assessment program.