Subpart Z
The Subpart covers toxic and hazardous substances that affect construction work and sets out requirements to protect workers from those substances. You can read the Subpart and its introductory material at 1926 Subpart Z.
The construction asbestos standard applies to remediation work described in property remediation and restoration activities, including most residential projects; such work is covered by 29 CFR 1926.1101 as explained in OSHA's interpretation on asbestos remediation protocols. See OSHA's interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14 for details.
When Class I asbestos exposures exceed 1 fiber per cubic centimeter (f/cc) as an 8-hour TWA, the employer must provide full facepiece supplied-air respirators (SARs) operated in pressure-demand mode with an auxiliary positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). OSHA explains these requirements in its asbestos respirator selection interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-01-04.
No; although prior monitoring can inform an initial exposure assessment, employers must perform appropriate initial monitoring for the new job or demonstrate a valid Negative Exposure Assessment (NEA) for the specific job conditions before relying on lower levels of respiratory protection. OSHA explains the need for proper exposure assessment and when an NEA applies in its respirator selection interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-01-04.
A Negative Exposure Assessment (NEA) is documentation the employer produces showing that exposures for the specific asbestos job will be below the permissible exposure limits; if an NEA exists, the employer may select respirators from Table 1 of the general Respiratory Protection standard instead of the stricter default asbestos respirators, but the employer must still meet asbestos-specific restrictions (for example, not using filtering facepieces and using HEPA filters for air-purifying respirators). OSHA describes NEAs and their effect on respirator selection in its interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-01-04.
Yes; asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) are more likely to be found in structures built before about 1980, and employers performing remediation in such buildings should treat certain materials as potential asbestos hazards and follow the construction asbestos requirements. OSHA discusses the continued presence of ACBM in older homes in its asbestos remediation protocols interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14.
Yes; if PPE will be required, employers must assess the workplace to determine hazards and produce a written certification of that hazard assessment. OSHA explains these PPE hazard assessment and written certification requirements in its interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.
Employers must assess the workplace to determine hazards that necessitate PPE and must provide written certification when PPE is required; OSHA does not rigidly require that every single short task have a separate formal assessment by a named ‘‘qualified person,’’ but the employer must ensure the assessment is adequate, and further analysis is needed when hazards are present or tasks change. OSHA explains employer responsibility for hazard assessments and written certification in its interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.
Nonmandatory guidance and appendices for construction toxic and hazardous substance rules are referenced as appendices to Subpart Z; employers can review the Subpart and linked Appendix A via 1926 Subpart Z.
OSHA Letters of Interpretation explain how existing standards apply to specific situations but do not by themselves create new legal requirements; they are authoritative explanations that help employers apply OSHA standards. OSHA states this in multiple letters, for example the sanitation interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-05-14.
No; if monitoring shows exposures exceed 1 f/cc as an 8-hour TWA, the employer must provide the higher-level supplied-air respirators with SCBA backup for Class I asbestos work for the duration of conditions that produce those exposures. OSHA addressed this specific scenario in its respirator selection interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-01-04.
Yes; because the Federal Railroad Administration has not promulgated sanitation regulations covering those workers, OSHA's sanitation requirements apply to railroad track and roadway maintenance employees working along tracks, and employers must provide sanitation facilities according to the applicable OSHA standard. OSHA explains this in its sanitation applicability interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-05-14.
Yes; while the inorganic arsenic standard does not cover arsenic-treated wood, employers must follow the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to provide information and training to workers exposed to CCA-treated wood dust, including health effects and protective measures. OSHA describes this in its arsenic-treated wood interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-05-03.
Yes; OSHA identified engineered stone fabrication and installation operations as a focus for enhanced inspections because of high silica exposure risks, and inspections in those NAICS codes will routinely cover respirable crystalline silica hazards. OSHA explains this targeted inspection initiative in its memorandum at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-09-22.
OSHA allows employers to rely on hearing protection devices—including earplugs or earmuffs—if they reduce exposures adequately and are part of an effective hearing conservation program; noise-canceling headphones may be acceptable only if they provide documented attenuation to reduce worker exposure to acceptable levels, and the employer must ensure proper fit, use, and program elements. OSHA discusses hearing protection and evaluation of devices in its letter on noise-canceling headphones at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-03-06.
No; OSHA does not mandate a universal annual CPR retraining interval for all employers, though its Best Practices guidance recommends annual retraining for life‑threatening emergency skills and some OSHA standards for specific industries do require first aid/CPR training. OSHA explains this in its CPR retraining interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-02-23.
No; employers should follow the hierarchy of controls and not rely solely on PPE—engineering and administrative controls should be used first when feasible, with PPE used where hazards remain. OSHA discusses this principle and hazard assessment expectations in its PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.
You can find the official Subpart and the regulatory citations for construction toxic and hazardous substances on OSHA's website at 1926 Subpart Z.