Major OSHA Regulations

Why This Matters

OSHA regulations form the backbone of workplace safety law in the United States, and you're being tested on more than just knowing what each rule requires. The exam expects you to understand how these regulations work together to create a comprehensive safety framework—from the broad catch-all authority of the General Duty Clause to highly specific standards targeting particular hazards like confined spaces or bloodborne pathogens. You'll need to recognize which regulation applies to different workplace scenarios and why Congress structured occupational safety this way.

These standards demonstrate key Employment Law principles: employer duty of care, regulatory compliance mechanisms, worker protection hierarchies, and the balance between business operations and employee safety. When you study these regulations, focus on the underlying logic—some require hazard elimination, others mandate protective equipment, and still others emphasize training and documentation. Don't just memorize the regulation names; know what type of protection each provides and when an employer would be liable for violations.

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Foundational Standards: The Framework for All Safety Obligations

These regulations establish the baseline duties that apply across all industries. They create the legal foundation that specific standards build upon and fill gaps where no specific regulation exists.

General Duty Clause

• Section 5(a)(1) catch-all provision—requires employers to provide workplaces "free from recognized hazards" causing or likely to cause death or serious harm
• Applies when no specific standard exists—OSHA uses this to cite employers for hazards not covered by other regulations, making it the agency's most flexible enforcement tool
• "Recognized hazard" is the key test—hazard must be known to the employer or generally recognized in the industry; this is frequently tested in scenario-based questions

Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

• OSHA 300 Log requirement—employers must maintain detailed records of work-related injuries and illnesses throughout the calendar year
• Reporting timelines are strictly enforced—fatalities require notification within 8 hours; hospitalizations, amputations, and eye losses within 24 hours
• Records serve dual purposes—help OSHA identify high-hazard workplaces for inspection and provide data for employer self-assessment of safety programs

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Chemical and Biological Hazard Controls

These regulations address invisible threats—substances that can harm workers through inhalation, skin contact, or bloodborne transmission. The common thread is the "right to know" principle: workers must understand what they're exposed to.

Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom)

• "Right to Know" law—employees have a legal right to information about every hazardous chemical in their workplace
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are mandatory—employers must maintain 16-section SDS documents for each hazardous chemical and make them readily accessible to workers
• GHS-aligned labeling required—labels must include pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements following the Globally Harmonized System; this standardization is frequently tested

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

• Exposure Control Plan (ECP) is central—employers must create written plans identifying job classifications with exposure risk and methods of compliance
• Universal precautions mandate—requires treating all human blood and certain body fluids as if known to be infectious, regardless of perceived risk
• Post-exposure protocols required—employers must provide confidential medical evaluation, testing, and hepatitis B vaccination at no cost to employees

Respiratory Protection Standard

• Hierarchy of controls applies—respirators are required only when engineering controls (ventilation, substitution) cannot adequately reduce airborne contaminants
• Fit testing is legally required—employees must pass annual fit tests to ensure respirator seals properly; improper fit is a common citation
• Written program mandatory—employers must establish comprehensive programs covering selection, training, maintenance, and medical evaluations

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Physical Hazard Prevention

These standards address dangers from the physical work environment—heights, noise, and dangerous energy sources. The regulatory approach here emphasizes hazard assessment first, then implementation of appropriate protective measures.

Fall Protection Standards

• Six-foot threshold in construction—employers must provide fall protection when workers are at heights of six feet or more; general industry threshold is four feet
• Three protection methods recognized—guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems; employer chooses based on feasibility
• Leading cause of construction deaths—falls consistently account for the highest percentage of construction fatalities, making this a heavily enforced and tested standard

Occupational Noise Exposure Standard

• 85 decibel action level—when 8-hour time-weighted average reaches 85 dB, employers must implement a hearing conservation program
• 90 decibel permissible exposure limit (PEL)—this is the maximum allowable exposure; exceeding it requires immediate engineering or administrative controls
• Audiometric testing required annually—employers must provide baseline and yearly hearing tests to detect threshold shifts before permanent damage occurs

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Standard

• Controls hazardous energy during servicing—prevents unexpected startup of machinery by requiring physical lockout devices and warning tags
• Energy isolation is the core concept—all energy sources (electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal) must be identified and isolated before maintenance begins
• Authorized vs. affected employees distinction—only trained "authorized" employees may apply locks; "affected" employees must understand the program but don't perform lockout

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Specialized Environment Standards

These regulations target specific high-risk work environments that require unique safety protocols beyond general workplace rules. The permit and program requirements reflect the elevated danger levels.

Confined Space Entry Standard

• Permit-required spaces have specific criteria—spaces must be large enough to enter, have limited entry/egress, and not be designed for continuous occupancy; atmospheric hazards or engulfment risks trigger permit requirements
• Permit system controls entry—written permits document hazard assessment, atmospheric testing, rescue procedures, and authorized entrants before anyone enters
• Attendant must remain outside—a trained attendant monitors conditions and maintains communication with entrants; never enters to attempt rescue without proper backup

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Standards

• Hazard assessment is the first requirement—employers must conduct workplace evaluations to identify hazards requiring PPE before selecting equipment
• Employer pays for required PPE—with limited exceptions (safety-toe footwear, prescription safety eyewear), employers must provide PPE at no cost to workers
• Training must cover limitations—employees need to understand not just how to use PPE, but what it won't protect against; false sense of security is a recognized problem

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Quick Reference Table

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Self-Check Questions

1. Which two standards both require employers to maintain written programs with specific procedural elements, and what distinguishes the hazards each addresses?

2. If an employee is injured by a workplace hazard not covered by any specific OSHA standard, under what regulation could OSHA still cite the employer, and what must OSHA prove?

3. Compare and contrast the Hazard Communication Standard and the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard—what "right to know" principle do they share, and how do their documentation requirements differ?

4. An FRQ describes a manufacturing facility where workers service heavy machinery. Which standard would most directly apply to protecting workers during equipment maintenance, and what are its three key components?

5. Why does OSHA use different height thresholds for fall protection in construction (6 feet) versus general industry (4 feet), and what does this reveal about how OSHA develops industry-specific standards?