Subpart G - Occupational Health and Environmental Controls

Subpart G provides the ventilation standard for operations involving abrasive blasting, grinding, polishing, buffing and spray finishing and also the standards for noise and non-ionizing radiation exposures in the workplace. 

To learn if subpart G applies to you, go to Does "Subpart G - Occupational Health and Environmental Control" Apply to You?

Special Requirements

Tab/Accordion Items

Scope: This standard covers three operations: paragraph (a) - abrasive blasting; paragraph (b) - grinding, polishing and buffing; and paragraph (c) - spray finishing.

Special Requirements: Inspections, respiratory protection program, NIOSH approved, respirators, operational procedures, safety shoes, eye and face protection, references other standards

1910.94(a)(3)(i)(e) - Slit abrasive-resistant baffles shall be installed in multiple sets at all small access openings where dust might escape, and shall be inspected regularly and replaced when needed.

1910.94(a)(4)(i) - The construction, installation, inspection, and maintenance of exhaust systems shall conform to the principles and requirements set forth in American National Standard Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation of Local Exhaust Systems, Z9.2-1960, and ANSI Z33.1-1961, which is incorporated by reference as specified in 1910.6 - incorporation by reference.

1910.94(a)(5)(i) - Employers must use only respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under 42 CFR part 84 to protect employees from dusts produced during abrasive-blasting operations.

1910.94(a)(5)(ii) - Abrasive-blasting respirators shall be worn by all abrasive-blasting operators: [Reference paragraph (a)(5)(ii)(A) - (C)].].

1910.94(a)(5)(iii) - Properly fitted particulate-filter respirators, commonly referred to as dust-filter respirators, may be used for short, intermittent, or occasional dust exposures such as cleanup, dumping of dust collectors, or unloading shipments of sand at a receiving point when it is not feasible to control the dust by enclosure, exhaust ventilation, or other means. The respirators used must be approved by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84 for protection against the specific type of dust encountered.  [Reference paragraph (a)(5)(iii)(A) - (B)].].

1910.94(a)(5)(iv) - For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with 1910.134.

1910.94(a)(5)(v) - Operators shall be equipped with heavy canvas or leather gloves and aprons or equivalent protection to protect them from the impact of abrasives. Safety shoes shall be worn to protect against foot injury where heavy pieces of work are handled.

  • 1910.94(a)(5)(v)(b) - Equipment for protection of the eyes and face shall be supplied to the operator when the respirator design does not provide such protection and to any other personnel working in the vicinity of abrasive blasting operations. This equipment shall conform to the requirements of 1910.133 - eye and face protection.

1910.94(a)(6) - Air supply and air compressors. Air for abrasive-blasting respirators must be free of harmful quantities of dusts, mists, or noxious gases, and must meet the requirements for supplied-air quality and use specified in 29 CFR 1910.134(i) - respiratory protection.

1910.94(a)(7) - Operational procedures and general safety. Dust shall not be permitted to accumulate on the floor or on ledges outside of an abrasive-blasting enclosure, and dust spills shall be cleaned up promptly. Aisles and walkways shall be kept clear of steel shot or similar abrasive which may create a slipping hazard.

1910.94(b)(2) - Application. Wherever dry grinding, dry polishing or buffing is performed, and employee exposure, without regard to the use of respirators, exceeds the permissible exposure limits prescribed in 1910.1000 - air contaminants, or other sections of this part (1910), a local exhaust ventilation system shall be provided and used to maintain employee exposures within the prescribed limits.

1910.94(c)(3)(iii)(a) - Overspray filters shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the requirements of 1910.107(b)(5) - Spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials, and shall only be in a location easily accessible for inspection, cleaning, or replacement.

1910.94(c)(5)(iii)(e) - Inspection or clean-out doors shall be provided for every 9 to 12 feet of running length for ducts up to 12 inches in diameter, but the distance between cleanout doors may be greater for larger pipes. A clean-out door or doors shall be provided for servicing the fan, and where necessary, a drain shall be provided.

1910.94(c)(6)(iii)(a) - When an operator is in a booth downstream from the object being sprayed, an air-supplied respirator or other type of respirator must be used by employees that has been approved by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84 for the material being sprayed.

Abrasive. A solid substance used in an abrasive blasting operation.

Particulate-filter respirator. An air purifying respirator, commonly referred to as a dust or a fume respirator, which removes most of the dust or fume from the air passing through the device.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements for protection against noise exposures. 

Special Requirements: Controls, hearing conservation program, monitoring program, audiometric testing program, training program, notifications, strategies, results, testing, certified, audiograms, monitoring, competence, qualified persons (i.e., audiologist), information, records, procedures, training, materials, instructions, records, measurements, informed (written), calibration, checks, personal protective equipment

1910.95(a) - Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when the sound levels exceed those shown in Table G-16 - Permissible Noise Exposures when measured on the A scale of a standard sound level meter at slow response. When noise levels are determined by octave band analysis, the equivalent A-weighted sound level may be determined as follows: [Reference paragraph (a)].

1910.95(b)(1) - When employees are subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16 - Permissible Noise Exposures, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of Table G-16, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table.

1910.95(c)(1) - The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) - hearing conservation program, through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A - Noise Exposure Computation, and Table G-16a - Permissible Noise Exposures, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment.

1910.95(d)(1) - When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program.

1910.95(d)(1)(i) - The sampling strategy shall be designed to identify employees for inclusion in the hearing conservation program and to enable the proper selection of hearing protectors.
 
1910.95(e) - Employee notification. The employer shall notify each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels of the results of the monitoring.
 
1910.95(g)(1) - The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
 
1910.95(g)(2) - The program shall be provided at no cost to employees.
 
1910.95(g)(3) - Audiometric tests shall be performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician, or by a technician who is certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation, or who has satisfactorily demonstrated competence in administering audiometric examinations, obtaining valid audiograms, and properly using, maintaining and checking calibration and proper functioning of the audiometers being used. A technician who operates microprocessor audiometers does not need to be certified. A technician who performs audiometric tests must be responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.
 
1910.95(g)(5)(i) - Within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, the employer shall establish a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared.
 
1910.95(g)(5)(iv) - The employer shall notify employees of the need to avoid high levels of non-occupational noise exposure during the 14-hour period immediately preceding the audiometric examination. 
 
1910.95(g)(6) - Annual audiogram. At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer shall obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
 
1910.95(g)(7)(iii) - The audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician shall review problem audiograms and shall determine whether there is a need for further evaluation. The employer shall provide to the person performing this evaluation the following information:
  • 1910.95(g)(7)(iii)(B) - The baseline audiogram and most recent audiogram of the employee to be evaluated;
1910.95(g)(8)(i) - Follow-up procedures. If a comparison of the annual audiogram to the baseline audiogram indicates a standard threshold shift as defined in paragraph (g)(10) - standard threshold shift, of this section has occurred, the employee shall be informed of this fact in writing, within 21 days of the determination.
 
1910.95(g)(8)(ii) - Follow-up procedures. Unless a physician determines that the standard threshold shift is not work related or aggravated by occupational noise exposure, the employer shall ensure that the following steps are taken when a standard threshold shift occurs:
  • 1910.95(g)(8)(ii)(A) - Employees not using hearing protectors shall be fitted with hearing protectors, trained in their use and care, and required to use them.
  • 1910.95(g)(8)(ii)(B) - Employees already using hearing protectors shall be refitted and retrained in the use of hearing protectors and provided with hearing protectors offering greater attenuation if necessary.
  • 1910.95(g)(8)(ii)(D) - The employee is informed of the need for an otological examination if a medical pathology of the ear that is unrelated to the use of hearing protectors is suspected.
1910.95(g)(8)(iii)(A) - Shall inform the employee of the new audiometric interpretation (subsequent audiometric testing).
 
1910.95(h)(1) - Audiometric tests shall be pure tone, air conduction, hearing threshold examinations, with test frequencies including as a minimum 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. Tests at each frequency shall be taken separately for each ear.
 
1910.95(h)(2) - Audiometric tests shall be conducted with audiometers (including microprocessor audiometers) that meet the specifications of, and are maintained and used in accordance with, American National Standard Specification for Audiometers, S3.6-1969, which is incorporated by reference as specified in 1910.6 - incorporation by reference.
 
1910.95(h)(5)(i) - The functional operation of the audiometer shall be checked before each day's use by testing a person with known, stable hearing thresholds, and by listening to the audiometer's output to make sure that the output is free from distorted or unwanted sounds. Deviations of 10 decibels or greater require an acoustic calibration. 
 
1910.95(h)(5)(ii) - Audiometer calibration shall be checked acoustically at least annually in accordance with appendix E: Acoustic Calibration of Audiometers. Test frequencies below 500 Hz and above 6000 Hz may be omitted from this check. Deviations of 15 decibels or greater require an exhaustive calibration.
 
1910.95(i)(1) - Employers shall make hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater at no cost to the employees. Hearing protectors shall be replaced as necessary.
 
1910.95(i)(2) - Employers shall ensure that hearing protectors are worn: {Reference paragraph (i)(2)(i) - (ii)].
 
1910.95(i)(3) - Employees shall be given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer.
 
1910.95(i)(4) - The employer shall provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors provided to employees.
 
1910.95(j)(1) - The employer shall evaluate hearing protector attenuation for the specific noise environments in which the protector will be used. The employer shall use one of the evaluation methods described in appendix B: Methods for Estimating the Adequacy of Hearing Protection Attenuation.
 
1910.95(k)(1) - The employer shall train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of this section. The employer shall institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.
 
1910.95(k)(2) - The training program shall be repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program. Information provided in the training program shall be updated to be consistent with changes in protective equipment and work processes.
 
1910.95(k)(3) - The employer shall ensure that each employee is informed of the following:
  • 1910.95(k)(3)(i) - The effects of noise on hearing;
  • 1910.95(k)(3)(ii) - The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care; and
  • 1910.95(k)(3)(iii) - The purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedures.

1910.95(l) - Access to information and training materials.

  • 1910.95(l)(1) - The employer shall make available to affected employees or their representatives copies of this standard and shall also post a copy in the workplace.
  • 1910.95(l)(2) - The employer shall provide to affected employees any informational materials pertaining to the standard that are supplied to the employer by the Assistant Secretary.
  • 1910.95(l)(3) - The employer shall provide, upon request, all materials related to the employer's training and education program pertaining to this standard to the Assistant Secretary and the Director.

1910.95(m)(1) - Exposure measurements. The employer shall maintain an accurate record of all employee exposure measurements required by paragraph (d) - monitoring, of this section.

1910.95(m)(2)(i) - Audiometric tests. The employer shall retain all employee audiometric test records obtained pursuant to paragraph (g) - audiometric testing program, of this section:

1910.95(m)(2)(ii)(F) - The employer shall maintain accurate records of the measurements of the background sound pressure levels in audiometric test rooms.

1910.95(m)(3) - Record retention. The employer shall retain records required in this paragraph (m) - records retention, for at least the following periods.

  • 1910.95(m)(3)(i) - Noise exposure measurement records shall be retained for two years.
  • 1910.95(m)(3)(ii) - Audiometric test records shall be retained for the duration of the affected employee's employment.

1910.95(m)(4) - Access to records. All records required by this section shall be provided upon request to employees, former employees, representatives designated by the individual employee, and the Assistant Secretary. The provisions of 29 CFR 1910.1020 (a)-(e) and (g)-(i) apply to access to records under this section.

1910.95(m)(5) - Transfer of records. If the employer ceases to do business, the employer shall transfer to the successor employer all records required to be maintained by this section, and the successor employer shall retain them for the remainder of the period prescribed in paragraph (m)(3) - record retention, of this section.

Scope: This standard applies to all radiations originating from radio stations, radar equipment, and other possible sources of electromagnetic radiation such as used for communication, radio navigation, and industrial and scientific purposes. This standard does not apply to the deliberate exposure of patients by, or under the direction of, practitioners of the healing arts.

Special Requirements: Radiation protection guide, warning symbol, warning information, instructions 

1910.97(a)(2)(i) - Radiation protection guide. For normal environmental conditions and for incident electromagnetic energy of frequencies from 10 MHz to 100 GHz, the radiation protection guide is 10 mW/cm.2 (milliwatt per square centimeter) as averaged over any possible 0.1-hour period.

1910.97(a)(3)(i) - The warning symbol for radio frequency radiation hazards shall consist of a red isosceles triangle above an inverted black isosceles triangle, separated and outlined by an aluminum color border. The words “Warning—Radio-Frequency Radiation Hazard” shall appear in the upper triangle. See figure G-11.

1910.97(a)(3)(iii) - The inclusion and choice of warning information or precautionary instructions is at the discretion of the user. If such information is included it shall appear in the lower triangle of the warning symbol.

The term electromagnetic radiation is restricted to that portion of the spectrum commonly defined as the radio frequency region, which for the purpose of this specification shall include the microwave frequency region.

Radiation protection guide. Radiation level which should not be exceeded without careful consideration of the reasons for doing so.

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