Occupational health controls

Employers must monitor airborne contaminants whenever there is reason to believe employees may be exposed above the permissible exposure limits (PELs). See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G for the obligation to assess and control exposures.

• Monitoring is required when operations, materials, or complaints indicate possible overexposure.
• If monitoring shows exposures above the PEL, employers must take corrective actions (engineering controls, work practices, or respirators) and keep records as required by applicable standards.

If monitoring shows exposure above the PEL, the employer must promptly implement controls to reduce employee exposure to at or below the PEL. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• First pursue feasible engineering and work-practice controls (e.g., ventilation, enclosure, substitution).
• If those measures do not lower exposures adequately, provide appropriate respirators and a written respiratory protection program as required by other applicable standards.
• Inform affected employees and keep exposure and medical records per the applicable standards.

Local exhaust ventilation is required whenever process fumes, dusts, or vapors cannot be controlled sufficiently by general ventilation or other means to protect employees. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Use hooding or capture systems at the source for welding fumes, solvent vapors, dust-generating operations, and similar hazards.
• Design systems to provide adequate capture velocity and maintain them with regular inspection and cleaning.

Yes — employers must retain exposure monitoring records when monitoring is required by a specific standard or when monitoring is performed to evaluate employee exposures. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Keep records in the format and for the duration required by the specific standard that mandated the monitoring (for example, some standards require long-term retention).
• Records should include date, sampling results, method used, and identity of sampled employees where required.

Employers must offer the hepatitis B vaccine at no cost to employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• The vaccine must be offered within a reasonable time after initial assignment and after the employee has received required training.
• If the employee declines, the employer must document the declination; if later the employee wants the vaccine, it must be provided.

Employers must provide access to a written hazard communication program, safety data sheets (SDSs), and labels that communicate chemical hazards to employees. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• The written program should describe how hazards are evaluated and how SDSs and labels are kept and made available.
• Employers must train employees on the hazards and protective measures before they work with hazardous chemicals and whenever new hazards are introduced.

Respirators can be used as the primary control only when feasible engineering and administrative controls are not adequate to reduce exposures to acceptable levels or while such controls are being implemented. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• When respirators are used, employers must implement a written respiratory protection program, medical evaluations, fit testing, training, and maintenance per the respiratory protection standard.

Employers must provide medical surveillance when required by the specific substance standard (for example, for asbestos, benzene, lead, etc.) or when employees are exposed above the action level or PEL as specified. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Medical surveillance frequency and content depend on the particular substance standard.
• Employers must pay for required medical exams and keep medical records in accordance with the relevant standard.

The employer is responsible for providing and maintaining adequate toilet and handwashing facilities that are readily accessible to employees. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Facilities must be kept clean, supplied with water, soap, and means to dry hands, and separated by sex unless private.
• Temporary worksites must still have reasonable sanitation facilities.

Employees have the right to access their own exposure and medical records that are maintained by the employer. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Employers must provide access within a reasonable time and keep records for the duration specified in the standard.
• Employers must also maintain confidentiality of medical information except as permitted by the standard.

Employers must monitor employee noise exposures when they suspect noise levels may equal or exceed the action level (an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dB(A)). See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• If monitoring confirms exposures at or above the action level, the employer must establish a hearing conservation program, provide baseline and annual audiograms, and implement noise controls as appropriate.

A Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is a written program that sets procedures, equipment, and work practices to protect laboratory workers from hazardous chemical exposures, and it is required for covered laboratory operations. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• The CHP must include criteria for control measures, personnel training, provisions for fume hoods and PPE, and medical consultation arrangements.
• The employer must designate a Chemical Hygiene Officer to implement the plan.

When airborne lead exceeds the action level, the employer must implement engineering and work-practice controls, provide respiratory protection when needed, initiate medical surveillance, and establish a regulated area. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Provide training, hygiene facilities, housekeeping, and personal protective equipment.
• Maintain exposure and medical records and follow medical removal protection provisions in the standard.

An employer must provide PPE when hazards in the workplace cannot be eliminated or controlled adequately by other means. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• PPE must be provided at no cost to the employee when required by OSHA standards.
• Employers must perform a hazard assessment, select appropriate PPE, train employees in its use, and maintain and replace PPE as needed.

Employers must provide hygiene facilities (showers, change rooms), clean work clothing, and prohibit eating, drinking, or smoking in areas with cadmium exposure to reduce worker contact. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Employers must also provide medical surveillance, training, and engineering controls to limit airborne cadmium.
• Housekeeping and waste disposal procedures are required to prevent contamination of non-work areas.

Yes — administrative controls (rotating job assignments, limiting time in hazardous areas) can be used to limit worker exposure when engineering controls alone are insufficient. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Administrative controls are typically considered after attempting engineering controls but may be used together with engineering measures.
• Employers must ensure administrative controls actually reduce individual exposures and document their effectiveness.

Employers must train employees who will respond to hazardous substance releases at emergency scenes to the level of response expected of them (awareness, operations, technician, or specialist). See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Training frequency varies by level; refresher training and drills are required to maintain competency.
• Employers must provide appropriate PPE, medical surveillance, and written emergency response plans where HAZWOPER applies.

Employers must retain respirator fit test records and medical evaluation records as required by the respiratory protection standard when respirators are required. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Fit test records typically include the employee's name, date, respirator type, and pass/fail results.
• Medical evaluation records must be maintained in accordance with medical-recordkeeping provisions and confidentiality requirements.

Employers must keep employee exposure records for the duration specified by the applicable standard or, when that standard does not specify, for at least 30 years as required by the access to records standard. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Records must be accurate, stored securely, and made available to employees or their representatives upon request.
• Follow any additional retention periods specified in substance-specific standards.

Training and labels must be provided in a language and vocabulary that employees can understand. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Employers must assess workers' language skills and literacy and adapt training and information accordingly.
• Safety Data Sheets must be accessible to employees during each workshift.

Energy control procedures apply when employees service or maintain machines and equipment where unexpected energization, start-up, or release of stored energy could cause injury. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Employers must develop, document, and train employees on procedures, provide locks and tags, and periodically inspect the program.

If an audiogram shows a Standard Threshold Shift, the employer must notify the employee, retrain them on hearing protection, and ensure effective hearing protection is provided and used. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• The employer must also review the audiogram to determine if workplace factors contributed and take steps to reduce exposure if needed.

Some substances have short-term exposure limits (STELs) or ceiling limits in addition to an 8-hour PEL; employers must meet all applicable limits for a substance. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Check the specific substance entry to determine whether a STEL or ceiling applies and ensure monitoring and controls address those time frames.

Employers must establish decontamination procedures for operations where employees are likely to be exposed to hazardous substances or where contamination of personnel and equipment may occur. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Decontamination must prevent secondary contamination, protect employees, and provide for safe disposal of contaminated materials.

Yes — when protective clothing becomes contaminated with lead, employers must provide cleaning or laundering services and must not allow employees to take contaminated clothing home. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Employers must also provide changing facilities and maintain housekeeping to minimize lead contamination in non-work areas.

Employers must ensure that SDSs are current and available; manufacturers and distributors must update SDSs when new hazard information becomes available, and employers must obtain updated SDSs and make them available to employees. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• If a process change introduces a new chemical hazard, obtain and provide the SDS before the change.

Operations-level responders are trained to protect people, property, or the environment by stopping the release from a safe distance; Technician-level responders are trained to approach and stop the release using more advanced procedures and PPE. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Training hours and competencies differ by level; employers must match training to the expected response role.

Ventilation systems should be inspected and maintained on a regular schedule to ensure continued effectiveness; frequency depends on system type and workplace conditions but must be sufficient to maintain required control. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Keep records of inspections, filter changes, repairs, and any performance testing that demonstrates the system meets control objectives.

A Site Safety and Health Plan is required for hazardous waste operations where employees are likely to be exposed to safety or health hazards; the SSHP identifies hazards, controls, training, and emergency procedures. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• The plan must be written, site-specific, and made available to employees and supervisors involved in the operation.

Employers should perform a hazard assessment that includes reviewing safety data sheets, consulting PELs and other exposure limits, and conducting air monitoring or modeling as needed before introducing new processes or chemicals. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Implement engineering controls and administrative measures to prevent overexposure before workers begin regular duties with the new process or chemical.

Employers must promptly notify affected employees when monitoring or medical surveillance shows exposures above permissible limits or when there are medical findings related to occupational exposure. See the requirements in 1910 Subpart G.

• Notifications should explain the findings, the steps taken to reduce exposures, and any medical follow-up or protective actions required.