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
    • Table Z-3, Mineral dusts. Contains permissible exposure limits (PELs) for "Inert or Nuisance Dust" (respirable fraction and total dust); these are currently the only PELs applicable to synthetic mineral fibers for General Industry.
  • 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]

Shipyard Industry (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1915.1000, Air contaminants

• Air contaminants (1989)
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

• Interpretation on the requirements of the hazard communication standard with regard to fiberglass products. (1997, April 29).
• Fiberglass and the HCS Standard. (1991, November 19).
• Requirement of Carcinogen warning label on textile glass filaments. (1991, September 6). The hazard communication standard (HCS) requires employers to perform a hazard determination for the products they manufacture to determine if, under normal conditions of use or in an emergency, workplace handling or use of their product can or could result in employee exposure to a hazardous chemicals.
• Regarding warning labels under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). (1991, June 28).
• Regarding labeling requirements of the OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). (1991, May 6). Discusses OSHA's policy regarding the labeling of hazardous chemicals for carcinogenic effects in the agency's compliance instruction for the hazard communication standard (HCS).
• Search all available standard interpretations.