• Record Type:
    OSHA Instruction
  • Current Directive Number:
    TED 01-00-015
  • Old Directive Number:
    TED 1-0.15A
  • Title:
    OSHA Technical Manual (OTM)
  • Information Date:
 

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This notice updates Section II: Chapter 1, Personal Sampling for Air Contaminants to reflect current resources, practices, and policy.

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

29 CFR 1910.1000

Cancellations:

Previous Version OSHA Technical Manual – Section II: Chapter 1, Personal Sampling for Air Contaminants

State Impact:

None. For State reference only.

Action Offices:

Area Offices.

Originating Office:

DTSEM/Salt Lake Technical Center/Health Response Team

Contact:

Salt Lake Technical Center/Health Response Team
8660 South Sandy Parkway
Sandy, UT 84070
801-233-4900

By and Under the Authority of

 

Douglas L. Parker
Assistant Secretary

Executive Summary

This chapter (Section II (Health Hazards), Chapter 1), provides technical information for Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) for sampling air contaminants. The content is based on current industry practices, research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards. The chapter is divided into five main sections and includes nine appendices.

Significant Changes

This is a complete update and revision of this chapter.

 

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This notice updates technical information specific to noise in the OSHA Technical Manual (OTM).

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

29 CFR 1910 OSHA General Industry Standards.

29 CFR 1926 OSHA Construction Standards.

29 CFR 1904 OSHA Recordkeeping Standards.

Centers for Disease Control. 1996. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss - A Practical Guide. Eds. John R. Franks, Mark R. Stephenson, and Carol J. Merry. NIOSH.

Cancellations:

13-03 (TED 01) OSHA Technical Manual, Section III, Chapter 5, Noise,August 15, 2013

State Impact:

None. For State reference only.

Action Offices:

Area Offices

Originating Office:

Salt Lake Technical Center/Health Response Team

Contact:

Salt Lake Technical Center/Health Response Team
8660 South Sandy Parkway
Sandy, UT 84070
801-233-4900

By and Under the Authority of

 

Douglas L. Parker
Assistant Secretary

Executive Summary

This chapter (Section III (Health Hazards), Chapter 5), provides technical information for Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) to evaluate noise hazards in the workplace. The content is based on current industry practices, research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards. The chapter is divided into seven main sections and includes ten appendices.

Significant Changes

This is a complete update and revision of this chapter.

 

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This notice updates technical information specific to industrial robot systems in the OSHA Technical Manual (OTM).

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

29 CFR 1910 OSHA General Industry Standards
RIA TR R15 Technical Reports for Industrial Robots and Robot Systems

Cancellations:

None

State Impact:

None. For State reference only.

Action Offices:

Area Offices

Originating Office:

Salt Lake Technical Center/Health Response Team

Contact:

Salt Lake Technical Center/Health Response Team
8660 South Sandy Parkway
Sandy, UT 84070
801-233-4900

By and Under the Authority of



James Frederick
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health

Executive Summary

This chapter (Section IV (Safety Hazards), Chapter 4), provides technical information for Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) to evaluate industrial robot systems and abatement methods. The content is based on current industry practices, research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards. The chapter is divided into eleven main sections and includes two appendices.

Significant Changes

This is a complete rewrite and update of this chapter.

 

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This notice adds technical information specific to combustible dusts to the OSHA Technical Manual (OTM).

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

29 CFR 1910.307, Hazardous (Classified) Locations.

Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program, OSHA Directive CPL 03-00-008.

NFPA 652-2019: Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust.

Cancellations:

None

State Impact:

None. For State reference only.

Action Offices:

Area Offices

Originating Office:

Salt Lake Technical Center/Health Response Team

Contact:

Salt Lake Technical Center/Health Response Team
8660 South Sandy Parkway
Sandy, UT 84070
801-233-4900

By and Under the Authority of



Loren Sweatt
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor

Executive Summary

This chapter (Section IV (Safety Hazards), Chapter 6), provides technical information for Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) to evaluate combustible dust hazards and abatement methods. The content is based on current industry practices, research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards. The chapter is divided into fourteen main sections and includes seventeen appendices.

Significant Changes

This is a new OTM Chapter, therefore, there are no significant changes.

 

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This Notice updates Section III (Health Hazards), Chapter 4 - Heat Stress in the OSHA Technical Manual.

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

TED-01-00-015 - OSHA Technical Manual

NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments

Argonne National Laboratory WBGT Utility, Version 1.2

Cancellations:

TED-01-00-015 - OSHA Technical Manual: Section III (Health Hazards), Chapter 4 - Heat Stress

State Plan Impact:

None, for State reference only

Action Offices:

OSHA Area Offices

Originating Office:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management

Contact:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
202-693-2010

By and Under the Authority of



Loren Sweatt
Deputy Assistant Secretary

Executive Summary

This update to the OSHA Technical Manual Section III, Chapter 4 - Heat Stress streamlines the chapter to focus on technical information unique to OSHA's Compliance Safety and Health Officers' (CSHOs) enforcement needs, and to leverage information on heat stress already available from other organizations through links to ensure consistent access to the most up-to-date heat health science.

The chapter is divided into three sections and uses the information from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for assessing risks, describing elements in a successful heat illness prevention program, and describing the signs and symptoms for heat illnesses. Lastly, the chapter provides methods to measure or calculate the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) for determining if a heat hazard is present in the workplace.

Significant Changes

The chapter has undergone extensive revisions. Listed below are the significant changes:

  • Links have been added to the NIOSH "Criteria for a Recommended Standard on Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments," published in July 2016, to avoid duplication and maintain consistency with the latest information on heat illness prevention science.
  • This update provides a systematic technical guide for using measured and calculated WBGT in combination with clothing and metabolic rate to compare to the ACGIH Action Limit (AL) and Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for determining if workplace conditions present a heat hazard.
  • Added a link to download a calculator tool and instructions to determine WBGT when a meter is not available, or when using historic weather information to recreate worksite conditions.
 

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This Notice removes Section VI, Chapter 2 - Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs from the OSHA Technical Manual.

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

TED-01-00-015 - OSHA Technical Manual

Cancellations:

TED-01-00-015 - OSHA Technical Manual: Section VI, Chapter 2 - Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs

State Plan Impact:

None, for State reference only

Action Offices:

OSHA Area Offices

Originating Office:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management

Contact:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
202-693-2010

By and Under the Authority of



Jordan Barab
Acting Assistant Secretary

Executive Summary

With this notice the OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) Section VI, Chapter 2 - Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs, is withdrawn and replaced by the webpage Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs (see OSHA's website www.osha.gov).

The OTM chapter was published in 1995 and has not been updated since its publication. Since 1995 government and industry have continued to identify improved control methods and refine policies that reduce chemical exposure risks to workers. The new website addresses these updates and improvements, which include:

  • Broadening the information on occupational exposures to include surface contamination;
  • Updating information on human effects, including adding a section on cancer;
  • Emphasizing the exposure control concept ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable);
  • Expanding on the reference information used to develop a Hazardous Drug Safety and Health Plan, including referencing National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and US Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) standards and recommended practices;
  • Expanding the information on worker training; and
  • Adding information on specific equipment types.

Significant Changes

There are no changes. This chapter is archived.

 

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This notice adds technical information specific to fall protection in the construction industry to the OSHA Technical Manual (OTM).

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

29 CFR 1926 Subpart M (.500, .501, .502, and appendices)

29 CFR 1926 Subpart R and appendices

ISEA. 2015. Personal Fall Protection Equipment. Use and Selection Guide.

 

Cancellations:

None

State Plan Impact:

None. For State reference only

Action Offices:

OSHA Area Offices

Originating Office:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management

Contact:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
202-693-2010

By and Under the Authority of



Dr. David Michaels
Assistant Secretary

Executive Summary

This chapter (Section V (Construction Operations), Chapter 4), provides technical information for Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CHSOs) to evaluate fall hazard assessment and abatement methods in the construction industry. The content is based on currently available research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards. The chapter is divided into three main sections. Following the introduction, the first section focuses on fall prevention, effective methodologies, and related equipment. The second section describes fall protection strategies and specific types of equipment. The third section describes how to assess fall hazards conceptually, visually, and mathematically. The three sections are followed by five appendices: Appendix A presents fall protection standards and references for scaffolds and related equipment; Appendix B lists the most significant OSHA standards relevant fall protection in construction; Appendix C lists and describes different fall protection anchors; Appendix D lists and describes lanyards, harnesses, deceleration devices, and related equipment; and Appendix E lists all references and resources. The final two sections are the references and a glossary.

Significant Changes

This is a new OTM Chapter, therefore, there are no significant changes

Click here for the full text of the chapter

 

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

Add technical information about ethanol processing to the OSHA Manual (OTM) Technical Manual (OTM) ]

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

Department ofEnergy. 2013. Biofuels Basics.

Environmental Protection Agency. 1995. Com Wet Milling. AP-42, Fifth Edition, Volume I.

National Fire Protection Association. Various Standards.

Cancellations:

None

State Plan Impact:

None. For State reference only

Action Offices:

OSHA Area Offices

Originating Office:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management

Contact:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment

By and Under the Authority of



Dr. David Michaels
Assistant Secretary

Executive Summary

This chapter (Section IV (Safety Hazards), Chapter 5), provides technical information for Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CHSOs) to evaluate safety and health hazards in ethanol-for-fuel manufacturing facilities. The content is based on currently available research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards.

The chapter is divided into six main sections. Following the introduction, the second section presents a profile of the U.S. ethanol manufacturing industry and describes the most commonly used production technologies. The third section identifies selected safety and health hazards associated with ethanol manufacturing. The fourth section describes some abatement measures typically used to prevent or mitigate hazards found in this industry. The fifth section outlines emergency planning requirements. The sixth section discusses worksite evaluations. The six sections are followed by four appendices: Appendix A presents a hazard and abatement measures summary; Appendix B lists the most significant OSHA standards relevant to ethanol manufacturing facilities; Appendix C discusses safe entry requirements for aboveground storage tanks; and Appendix D is a short discussion on ethanol production from cellulosic materials. The final two sections are the references and a glossary.

Significant Changes

New chapter added in Section IV Safety Hazards. No other changes to the Directive.

Click here for the full text of the chapter

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This Notice provides updates to the technical basis for chemical exposure related inspections

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

OSHA Technical Manual - Section II: Sampling, Measurement Methods and Instruments

Cancellations:

Section II: Chapter 4 - Sample Shipping and Handling

State Impact:

 

Action Offices:

OSHA Area Offices

Originating Office:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management

Contact:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment

By and Under the Authority of



Dr. David Michaels
Assistant Secretary

Executive Summary

These three chapters provide technical information and guidance to help Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) evaluate chemical and some types of biological exposures in the workplace. The content is based on the previous versions of the chapters as well as currently available research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards.

Each chapter is divided into sections covering background information, instrumentation calculations and references.

Significant Changes

These chapters were restructured and updated to reflect current compliance needs. There were no policy changes.

Click here for the full text of the chapter

OSHA NOTICE

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This Notice provides the technical basis for occupational noise related inspections.

Scope:

OSHA-wide

References:

AIHA. 2003. The Noise Manual. 5th edition. Edited by E.H. Berger et al. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association.

Centers for Disease Control. 1996. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss - A Practical Guide. Eds. John R. Franks, Mark R. Stephenson, and Carol J. Merry. NIOSH.

Cancellations:

None

State Impact:

 

Action Offices:

OSHA Area Offices.

Originating Office:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management

Contact:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment

By and Under the Authority of




Assistant Secretary

Executive Summary

This chapter provides technical information and guidance to help Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) evaluate noise hazards in the workplace. The content is based on currently available research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards.

The chapter is divided into six main sections. Following the introduction, the second section provides background information about noise and noise regulations and an overview of noise controls. The third section describes worksite noise evaluations, including noise measurement equipment, noise evaluation procedures, and noise sampling. The fourth section offers investigative guidelines (including methods for planning the investigation) and outlines a strategy for conducting noise evaluations. The fifth section describes noise hazard abatement and control, including engineering and administrative controls, hearing protection, noise conservation programs, cost comparisons between noise hazard abatement options, and case studies.

The final two sections provide references used to produce this chapter and resources for obtaining additional information. The appendices provide a glossary of terms, sample calculations, and expanded discussion of certain topics introduced in the chapter.

Significant Changes

None, this is a new chapter.

Click here for the full text of the chapter

OSHA Instruction

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

This instruction transmits the OSHA Technical Manual (OTM). OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHO's) use the OTM as a reference for technical information on occupational safety and health issues.

Scope:

OSHA-Wide

References:

OSHA Instruction CPL 2.103, Field Inspection Reference Manual (FIRM)

Cancellations:

OSHA Instruction TED 1.15

State Impact:

None. For State Reference only

Action Offices:

None

Recent Updates:

In Section II: Chapter 1 ("Personal Sampling for Air Contaminants"), Chapter 2 ("Sampling for Surface Contamination"), Chapter 3 ("Technical Equipment"), Chapter 4 ("Sample Shipping and Handling"). In Section III: Chapter 5 ("Noise Measurement"), Chapter 7 ("Legionnaires' Disease"). In Section VII: Chapter 1 ("Back Disorders and Injuries").

New Additions:

Section I ("Introduction"). Section VIII, Chapter 2 ("Respiratory Protection").

Originating Office:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment

Contact:

Office of Science and Technology Assessment

  • 200 Constitution Ave NW, Room N-3653
  • Washington, D.C. 20010
  • (202) 693-2095

By and Under the Authority of

Charles N. Jeffress
Assistant Secretary

I. Purpose

  1. The OTM provides technical information and guidance on occupational safety and health topics. The content is based on currently available research publications, OSHA standards, and consensus standards. The purpose of the manual is to assist OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers in hazard recognition and to provide guidance in accident prevention. It also serves as a source of advice for CSHO's on safety and health issues.
  2. The manual is not a substitute for OSHA standards and is not used for establishing Agency compliance policies. In the unlikely event of any inconsistencies between material in the manual and the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the standards and regulations promulgated there under, the latter are controlling. The manual has ten sections and each section is divided into specific chapters. (See reference section below for a complete list of sections, chapters, and updates.) The information herein is valuable in establishing sound safety and health programs.

II. Scope

This instruction applies OSHA-wide.

III. Cancellation

OSHA Instruction TED 1.15 is cancelled.

IV. References

This directive may be used as a resource reference for compliance officers, in addition to OSHA Instruction CPL 2.103, Field Inspection Reference Manual (FIRM), which serves as a primary resource.

IV. Action Information

  1. Responsible Offices. Office of Science and Technology Assessment
  2. Action Offices. None
  3. Information Offices. All National Office Directorates and Regions, State and Consultation Designees.

V. Actions Required

OSHA's compliance safety and health officers should use this as one of their resources for technical information on occupational safety and health matters.

VI. Significant Changes

The following are major changes that are made in this directive:

  1. This Introduction (Section I) was added to the OTM.
  2. In Section II, Chapter 1, "Personal Sampling for Air Contaminants," the word "additive" was replaced by "synergistic" to reflect synergistic exposures and their measurement. All sections were revised, and a new Appendix (II:1-7) was added. Chapter 2, "Sampling for Surface Contamination," was extensively revised. In Chapter 3, "Technical Equipment," the section on batteries was augmented; private delivery services were added to the mailing information; and brand names were removed from the Appendixes. In Chapter 4, "Sample Shipping and Handling," mailing information was revised; and under hazardous materials "biological samples" was added.
  3. In Section III, Chapter 5, "Noise Measurement," the wording in the text describing the procedure for measuring attenuation for dual hearing protection was modified to be consistent with the wording in Figure III 5-1, "Calculating Hearing Protection Attenuation." A new section, "New Developments in Hearing Protection Labeling," and an Appendix on Sample NHCA Labels and Recommendations of the NHCA Task Force on Hearing Protector Effectiveness were added. A table showing Threshold Limit Values for Ultrasound was replaced with one adhering to 1998 standards published by ACGIH, Figure titled "Calculating Hearing Protector Attenuation" was changed to "Case Scenarios," which consists of clearer examples of when hearing protectors are required. In Chapter 7, "Legionnaires' Disease," the micron specification of a recommended filter was changed from 1 to 0.2.
  4. In Section IV, Chapter 2, "Petroleum Refining Process," 15 tables were redesigned for a clearer representation of the process flows.
  5. In Section VII, Chapter 1, "Back Disorders and Injuries," Appendix VII:1-1 was replaced to reflect NIOSH's revised equation for the design and evaluation of manual lifting tasks. The remaining Appendixes were replaced by the current Appendixes VII:1-2, VII:1-3, VII:1-4.
  6. In Section VIII, a new chapter (Chapter 2, "Respiratory Protection") was added.

VIII. Content of the Manual

  1. The OTM is divided into the following sections and chapters:
    1. General Information
      • Introduction to OSHA Technical Manual (OTM)
    2. Sampling and measurement methods
      • Personal sampling for air contaminants
      • Sampling for surface contamination
      • Technical equipment
      • Sample shipping and handling
    3. Health hazards
      • Polymer matrix materials
      • Indoor air quality investigation
      • Ventilation investigation
      • Heat stress
      • Noise measurement
      • Laser hazards
      • Legionnaires' disease
    4. Safety hazards
      • Oil well derrick stability
      • Petroleum refining processes
      • Pressure vessel guidelines
      • Industrial robots
    5. Construction operations
      • Demolition
      • Excavations
      • Controlling lead exposures in the construction industry
    6. Health care facilities
      • Hospital investigations
      • Controlling occupational exposure to hazardous drugs
    7. Ergonomics
      • Back disorders and injuries
    8. Personal protective equipment
      • Chemical protective clothing
      • Respiratory protection
    9. Safety and health management
    10. Miscellaneous issues
      • Metric system conversion
  2. OTM chapters are current as of the date of the original OTM publication, September 22, 1995, except for a) the chapters listed in the abstract under the headings "Recent Updates," and b) two chapters that were published on May 24, 1996 (Section III, Chapter 7, "Legionnaires' Disease" and Section IV, Chapter 2, "Petroleum Refining Processes") and are current as of that date.
  3. Section VIII, Chapter 2 ("Respiratory Protection") is a new chapter and current as of May 1998.
  4. The bibliography at the end of each chapter provides a complete reference list.

Table of Contents

SECTION I: General Information

  1. Notices of Change

SECTION II: Sampling, Measurement Methods and Instruments

SECTION III: Health Hazards

SECTION IV: Safety Hazards

SECTION V: Construction Operations

SECTION VI: Health-Care Facilities

SECTION VII: Ergonomics

SECTION VIII: Personal Protective Equipment

SECTION IX: Safety and Health Management

  • RESERVED

SECTION X: Miscellaneous