['Toxic and Hazardous Substances - OSHA']
['Toxic and Hazardous Substances - OSHA']
01/02/2025
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Toxic substances are chemicals or mixtures that may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. They include chemical substances, mixtures, and categories like arsenic, asbestos, benzene, and more.
Hazardous substances are any materials that pose a threat to human health and/or the environment. Typical hazardous substances are toxic, corrosive, ignitable, explosive, or chemically reactive.
Scope
Subpart Z -Toxic and Hazardous Substances is the largest subpart under 1910. It contains 1910.1000Air Contaminants. Here you will find the Z tables, Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3. These tables provide the exposure limits for many substances found in the workplace, expressed in permissible exposure limits (PELs).
This subpart also contains the substance-specific requirements for 28 chemicals, such as asbestos and formaldehyde.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1910.1000 — Air contaminants
- 29 CFR 1910.1001 — Asbestos
- 29 CFR 1910.1002 — Coal tar pitch volatiles; interpretation of term
- 29 CFR 1910.1003 — 13 Carcinogens (4-nitrobiphenyl, etc.)
- 29 CFR 1910.1004 — alpha-Naphthylamine
- 29 CFR 1910.1006 — Methyl chloromethyl ether
- 29 CFR 1910.1007 — 3,3′-Dichlorobenzidine (and its salts)
- 29 CFR 1910.1008 — bis-Chloromethyl ether
- 29 CFR 1910.1009 — beta-Naphthylamine
- 29 CFR 1910.1010 — Benzidine
- 29 CFR 1910.1011 — 4-Aminodiphenyl
- 29 CFR 1910.1012 — Ethyleneimine
- 29 CFR 1910.1013 — beta-Propiolactone
- 29 CFR 1910.1014 — 2-Acetylaminofluorene
- 29 CFR 1910.1015 — 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
- 29 CFR 1910.1016 — N-Nitrosodimethylamine
- 29 CFR 1910.1017 — Vinyl chloride
- 29 CFR 1910.1018 — Inorganic arsenic
- 29 CFR 1910.1020 — Access to employee exposure and medical records
- 29 CFR 1910.1024 — Beryllium
- 29 CFR 1910.1025 — Lead
- 29 CFR 1910.1026 — Chromium (VI)
- 29 CFR 1910.1027 — Cadmium
- 29 CFR 1910.1028 — Benzene
- 29 CFR 1910.1029 — Coke oven emissions
- 29 CFR 1910.1030 — Bloodborne pathogens
- 29 CFR 1910.1043 — Cotton dust
- 29 CFR 1910.1044 — 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane
- 29 CFR 1910.1045 — Acrylonitrile
- 29 CFR 1910.1047 — Ethylene oxide
- 29 CFR 1910.1048 — Formaldehyde
- 29 CFR 1910.1050 — Methylenedianiline (MDA)
- 29 CFR 1910.1051 — 1,3-Butadiene
- 29 CFR 1910.1052 — Methylene chloride
- 29 CFR 1910.1053 — Respirable Crystalline Silica
- 29 CFR 1910.1096 — Ionizing radiation
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 — Hazard communication
- 29 CFR 1910.1201 — Retention of DOT markings, placards and labels
- 29 CFR 1910.1450 — Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories
Key definitions
- Action level: An airborne level, typically one-half of the permissible exposure limit designated in OSHA’s substance-specific standards, 29 CFR 1910, Subpart Z, calculated as an eight-hour time-weighted average, which initiates certain required activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance.
- Ceiling limit: The exposure limit a worker’s exposure may never exceed.
- Hazardous substance: Any material that poses a threat to human health and/or the environment. Typical hazardous substances are toxic, corrosive, ignitable, explosive, or chemically reactive.
- Permissible exposure limit (PEL): The legal limit for maximum concentration of any chemical in the air to which a worker may be exposed continuously for eight hours without any danger to health and safety.
- Regulated area: An area established by the employer to demarcate areas where airborne concentrations exceed, or there is a reasonable possibility they may exceed, the permissible exposure limits.
- Short-term exposure limit (STEL): The average exposure to a contaminant to which a worker may be exposed during a short time period (typically 15 – 30 minutes).
- Time-weighted average (TWA): The average exposure to a contaminant over a given period of time, typically 8 hours.
- Toxic substance: Chemicals or mixtures that may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. They include chemical substances, mixtures, and categories like arsenic, asbestos, benzene, and more.
Summary of requirements
Employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplace must:
- Have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately. The training for employees must also include information on the hazards of the chemicals in their work area and the measures to be used to protect themselves. See 1910.1200.
- Identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in their workplaces. See 1910 Subpart Z.
- Use engineering and work practice controls as the primary means to reduce employee exposure to toxic chemicals, as far as feasible.
- Require the use of respiratory protection if engineering or work practice controls are infeasible or while engineering controls are being implemented.
- Provide personal protective equipment at no cost to employees. This may include coveralls, gloves, head coverings, foot coverings, face shields, vented goggles, or other appropriate protective equipment.
- Conduct medical surveillance on employees exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Most sections in Subpart Z require initial monitoring of employees exposed to airborne contaminants at or above the time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit and/or excursion limit. After the initial monitoring, periodic monitoring samples must be conducted at a frequency and pattern that represents with reasonable accuracy the levels of employee exposure. In no case must sampling be at intervals greater than six months for employees whose exposures may reasonably be foreseen to exceed the TWA permissible exposure limit and/or excursion limit. Maintain accurate records of medical surveillance (time periods vary; see individual sections in Subpart Z).
- Keep an accurate record of all measurements taken to monitor employee exposure.
- Establish regulated areas wherever airborne contaminants are in excess of the TWA and/or excursion limit. Regulated areas must be marked with signs and set off from the rest of the workplace in a manner that minimizes the number of persons who will be exposed.
- Post warning signs at each regulated area. Warning signs also must be posted at all approaches to regulated areas so that employees may read the signs and take necessary protective steps before entering the area. See individual sections in Subpart Z for sign specifications.
- Ensure that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in regulated areas.
See our quick reference guides
Deciphering regulations related to chemical management in your workplace can be challenging. Our “HAZs” quick reference guide on chemical management topics is a convenient tool you can reference to help ensure compliance.
Medical surveillance related to workplace toxic and hazardous substances can also create some confusion. Our Medical Surveillance quick reference guide breaks down exposure limits and applicable regulations so you can ensure worker safety while maintaining compliance.
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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.