Subpart A
Part 1926 sets forth the safety and health standards the Secretary of Labor promulgated under section 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, and the specific construction standards are published in Subpart C and the following subparts. See 1926.1(a).
Statements of general policy and interpretations of section 107 that have general applicability are contained in Subpart B of Part 1926. See 1926.1(b).
If the remediation work involves asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM), OSHA's construction asbestos standard, 29 CFR 1926.1101, applies even if the employer is not a traditional construction contractor. See OSHA's interpretation on asbestos remediation protocols: Asbestos remediation protocols.
Yes. Asbestos clean-up operations for residential properties can be covered by OSHA's construction asbestos standard, 29 CFR 1926.1101, rather than the general industry standard, when the work involves ACBM. See OSHA's interpretation: Asbestos remediation protocols.
Employers must provide full facepiece supplied-air respirators (SARs) with an auxiliary positive-pressure SCBA whenever Class I asbestos exposures exceed 1 fiber/cc as an 8-hour TWA. If exposures are at or below 1 f/cc (and there is no negative exposure assessment), different respirator options are allowed. See OSHA's respirator selection interpretation for Class I asbestos work: Respirator selection for asbestos work.
An employer may rely on exposure monitoring, but if exposures exceed 1 f/cc as an 8‑hour TWA the employer must provide SARs with an auxiliary positive‑pressure SCBA; when exposures are at or below 1 f/cc, PAPRs or full facepiece SARs are allowed unless a negative exposure assessment (NEA) is demonstrated. Employers cannot choose filtering facepiece respirators for Class I asbestos work. See OSHA's guidance: Respirator selection for asbestos work.
No. If initial or representative sampling shows exposures exceed 1 f/cc, the employer must continue to provide full facepiece SARs operated in pressure‑demand mode with an auxiliary positive‑pressure SCBA for Class I asbestos work; they cannot downgrade to lesser protection. See OSHA's interpretation on respirator selection for Class I asbestos work: Respirator selection for asbestos work.
Yes. Where another federal agency (like the FRA) has not promulgated sanitation regulations covering a work activity, OSHA's sanitation requirements can apply to employees working along railroad tracks, and employers must provide sanitation facilities under the applicable OSHA standards (for example, 29 CFR 1910.141 or 29 CFR 1926.51 depending on the work). See OSHA's interpretation about sanitation standards applicability: OSHA sanitation standards applicability.
Yes. Employers must assess the workplace to determine whether hazards are present that require PPE, and if PPE is required the employer must provide a written certification of the hazard assessment. OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation explains these requirements and points to the relevant PPE standard. See: PPE hazard assessment requirements.
Part 1926 applies to construction activities regardless of the employer's usual industry classification; if the work performed falls within construction activities covered by the standards (for example, asbestos abatement or demolition), the construction standards in Part 1926 apply. See 1926.1(a) and OSHA's asbestos remediation interpretation noting coverage of remediation work under 29 CFR 1926.1101: Asbestos remediation protocols.
Employers and workers should consult Subpart B of Part 1926 for statements of general policy and interpretations that have general applicability to section 107 matters affecting construction. See 1926.1(b).