Toxic and hazardous substances cross-references

The purpose of 1910.19 is to specify which substance-specific OSHA standards apply instead of other general-industry exposure rules for certain toxic or hazardous chemicals.

• This means when 1910.19 lists a chemical (for example, asbestos or vinyl chloride), the cited substance-specific standard governs employee exposure in the workplaces and employment categories named in the paragraph.
• For the exact cross-reference language, see 1910.19.

The asbestos standard 1910.1001 applies to exposures to asbestos, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite dust in every employment and place of employment covered by 1910.16, replacing any different exposure standard that would otherwise apply.

• In short: if the work is covered by 1910.16, use 1910.1001 for those asbestos-related exposures.
• See the cross-reference language in 1910.19(a).

Asbestos remediation work described for property remediation typically falls under OSHA’s construction asbestos standard 1926.1101, not the general industry standard 1910.1001, when the activities involve removal, repair, cleanup, or similar remediation of asbestos-containing building materials.

• OSHA explains this point in the letter of interpretation “Asbestos remediation protocols” available at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14 which states remediation activities involving ACBM are covered by 1926.1101.
• If in doubt, evaluate whether the work is repair/removal/cleanup of building materials; if it is, follow 1926.1101 per OSHA’s guidance.

1910.1017 controls employee exposure to vinyl chloride in workplaces and employments covered by 1910.12, 1910.13, 1910.14, 1910.15, or 1910.16, replacing any other exposure standard that would otherwise apply.

• See the specific cross-reference at 1910.19(b).

Employers must follow 1910.1045 for acrylonitrile exposures in any employment or place of employment covered by 1910.12, 1910.13, 1910.14, 1910.15, or 1910.16, replacing any other standard that would otherwise apply.

• See the cross-reference in 1910.19(c).

1910.1018 applies to inorganic arsenic exposures for the employments listed in 1910.19(e), replacing any other exposure standard that would otherwise apply.

• If your workplace is covered by 1910.12, 1910.13, 1910.14, 1910.15, or 1910.16, follow 1910.1018.

Employers must use 1910.1025 to control employee exposure to lead in every employment and place of employment covered by 1910.13, 1910.14, 1910.15, and 1910.16, rather than any other exposure standard that might otherwise apply.

• See the cross-reference at 1910.19(g).

1910.1047 applies to ethylene oxide exposures in every employment and place of employment covered by 1910.12, 1910.13, 1910.14, 1910.15, or 1910.16, replacing any other exposure standard.

• See the cross-reference wording in 1910.19(h).

1910.1050 applies to exposures to 4,4′-Methylenedianiline (MDA) in every employment and place of employment covered by 1910.13, 1910.14, 1910.15, or 1910.16, instead of any other exposure standard.

• See 1910.19(i).

1910.1048 governs formaldehyde exposures in every employment and place of employment covered by 1910.12, 1910.13, 1910.14, 1910.15, or 1910.16, replacing any other exposure standard for formaldehyde that would otherwise apply.

• See the cross-reference at 1910.19(j).

Employers must follow 1910.1027 for cadmium exposures in every employment and place of employment covered by 1910.16, instead of any other cadmium exposure standard.

• See the cross-reference language in 1910.19(k).

1910.1051 applies to 1,3-butadiene (BD) exposures for every employment and place of employment covered by 1910.12, 1910.13, 1910.14, 1910.15, or 1910.16, replacing other exposure standards.

• See 1910.19(l).

1910.1052 applies to methylene chloride (MC) exposures in every employment and place of employment covered by 1910.16 when MC is present and not in sealed, intact containers, replacing any other exposure standard that would otherwise apply.

• See the specific condition in 1910.19(m).

No—when 1910.19 directs that a substance-specific standard applies "in lieu of any different standard on exposure...which would otherwise be applicable by virtue of" the listed sections, it means the named substance standard replaces those other provisions for exposure control in the specified employments or places of employment, but other unrelated OSHA requirements (e.g., hazard communication, recordkeeping, machine guarding) may still apply.

• For example, 1910.19(j) points employers to 1910.1048 for formaldehyde exposure rules where specified, but other OSHA standards remain potentially applicable depending on the task and hazard.
• Always read the cross-reference paragraph carefully to see which employments/places it covers and then follow the substance-specific standard cited.

Start by checking 1910.19 for any explicit cross-reference that directs which substance-specific standard applies for the employment or place of employment in question; if 1910.19 cites a substance-specific standard for your situation, follow that standard.

• If 1910.19 does not cover your situation, consult the substance-specific standard(s) themselves (for example, 1910.1025 for lead or 1910.1001 for asbestos) and apply the one that covers your employment and operations.
• When in doubt about coverage (for example, construction vs. general industry), consult OSHA guidance or a relevant letter of interpretation such as the asbestos remediation protocols letter at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14.