Navigating OSHA’s 29 CFR Regulations

You’re likely already familiar with OSHA’s 29 CFR regulations, but are you aware of the full scope of these standards and your obligations under them? This cornerstone of federal labor regulation establishes health and safety standards that shape every aspect of the American workplace. Here’s what you should know about Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, also known as 29 CFR.

The History of 29 CFR

The origins of 29 CFR date back to the Federal Register Act of 1935, which created the organized, codified form for all federal regulations. Title 29 – Labor consolidated rules under existing agencies such as the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OSHA was established by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act in 1970, and quickly moved to consolidate and issue regulatory standards under 29 CFR.

In the years since, numerous updates to 29 CFR have been made, reflecting changes in technology, industry practices, and workplace safety priorities. OSHA’s Standards Improvement Project began in 1995 and has provided updates and refinements to standards ever since.

How 29 CFR Is Organized

What is CFR Part 29? Like other federal regulations, 29 CFR is divided into chapters, parts, and subparts. Chapters number I to XL and sections 0 to 4999, but only some of these have been assigned, while others are available for future regulations.

29 CFR’s chapters include:

Parts 1900 to 1999 outline OSHA regulations. They include health and safety standards, inspection rules, and procedural enforcement under the OSH Act. Some parts are reserved, while others are absent due to being proposed but not implemented or previously used and subsequently removed.

Parts of 29 CFR under OSHA include:

• Part 1900: Reserved
• Part 1901: Reserved
• Part 1902: State Plans for the Development and Enforcement of State Standards
• Part 1903: Inspections, Citations, and Proposed Penalties
• Part 1904: Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
• Part 1905: Rules of Practice for Variances, Limitations, Variations, Tolerances, and Exemptions under the OSH Act
• Part 1906: Administration, Witnesses, and Documents in Private Litigation (Reserved)
• Part 1908: Consultation Agreements
• Part 1910: Occupational Safety and Health Standards (General Industry)
• Part 1911: Rules of Procedure for Promulgating, Modifying, or Revoking OSHA Standards
• Part 1912: Advisory Committees on Standards
• Part 1912a: National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
• Part 1913: Rules of Agency Practice and Procedure Concerning OSHA Access to Employee Medical Records
• Part 1915: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Shipyard Employment
• Part 1917: Standards for Marine Terminals
• Part 1918: Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring
• Part 1919: Gear Certification
• Part 1920: Procedure for Variations from Safety and Health Regulations under the Longshoremen’s & Harbor Workers Compensation Act
• Part 1921: Rules of Practice in Enforcement Proceedings under Section 41 (Longshoremen’s & Harbor Workers Act)
• Part 1922: Investigational Hearings under Section 41 of LHWCA
• Part 1924: Safety Standards Applicable to Workshops and Rehabilitation Facilities Assisted by Grants
• Part 1925: Safety and Health Standards for Federal Service Contracts
• Part 1926: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction
• Part 1927: Reserved
• Part 1928: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Agriculture
• Part 1949: OSHA Office of Training and Education
• Part 1952: Approved State Plans for Enforcement of State Standards
• Part 1953: Changes to State Plans
• Part 1954: Procedures for Evaluation and Monitoring of State Plans
• Part 1955: Procedures for Withdrawal of Approval of State Plans
• Part 1956: State Plans for Standards Applicable to State and Local Government Employees in Non-plan States
• Part 1975: Coverage of Employers under the OSH Act of 1970
• Part 1977: Discrimination Against Employees Exercising Rights under the OSH Act
• Part 1978: Procedures for Handling Retaliation Complaints under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA)
• Part 1979: Procedures for Discrimination Complaints under Section 519 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act
• Part 1980: Procedures for Handling Retaliation Complaints under Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• Part 1981: Procedures for Discrimination Complaints under the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002
• Parts 1982–1989: Procedures for Retaliation and Discrimination Complaints Under Various Federal Statutes (e.g., Consumer Protection, Whistleblower, and Financial Laws)
• Part 1990: Identification, Classification, and Regulation of Potential Occupational Carcinogens
• Part 1991: Procedures for Handling Retaliation Complaints under the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act
• Parts 1993–1999: Reserved

These parts encompass a comprehensive range of health and safety regulations. Many, while critical in their contexts, are highly situational or apply only to select industries. Generally, there are a few key parts that stand out as most impactful in day-to-day health and safety operations. We’ll take a closer look at parts 1903, 1904, 1910, and 1926 to better understand employer obligations.

Part 1903: Inspections, Citations, and Proposed Penalties

Part 1903 of 29 CFR establishes OSHA’s authority to conduct workplace inspections and enforce safety standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It defines inspection procedures (§1903.7), the issuance of citations (§1903.14), and penalty proposals (§1903.15). Together, these sections form the legal framework that governs OSHA’s 29 CFR audits, enforcement and compliance actions.

Employers should understand that inspections may occur without prior notice (§1903.6) and can result from complaints, incidents, or programmed inspections. They have the right to representation during inspections (§1903.8) and are required to post any citations issued (§1903.16). Failing to correct violations (§1903.18) can result in repeat penalties or escalated enforcement.

Employers must maintain required records, cooperate during inspections, and complete abatement verification (§1903.19) within set deadlines. You can better prepare your facilities for potential OSHA inspections by conducting regular internal audits. The right safety auditing software can make it easy to create, manage, and track audits, along with standardizing your documentation.

Part 1904: Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Part 1904 establishes the rules for how employers must record, maintain, and report work-related injuries and illnesses. It defines which incidents are recordable (§1904.7), reporting deadlines for severe cases such as fatalities or amputations (§1904.39), and the use of OSHA Forms 300, 301, and 300A for annual recordkeeping.

Employers must determine if they are required to keep OSHA injury and illness logs (§1904.1–§1904.2) based on company size and industry. Records must be retained for five years (§1904.33) and summaries posted annually from February 1 to April 30 (§1904.32). Certain employers must also electronically submit data through OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application.

To comply, employers should document each recordable case promptly, update logs throughout the year, and verify the accuracy of the information before posting the annual summary. They must also investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement preventive measures. Incident management software can significantly simplify this aspect of OSHA compliance, from streamlining incident reporting to tracking corrective actions.

Part 1910: Occupational Safety and Health Standards

Part 1910 of 29 CFR serves as the foundation of OSHA’s General Industry Standards, applying to most workplaces. What are the OSHA safety standards? They establishes the minimum requirements for maintaining safe and healthy working conditions across diverse industries. Subparts address key hazard categories. These standards form the backbone of day-to-day safety compliance, guiding employers in identifying risks, implementing controls, and protecting employees from preventable injuries and illnesses.

Subparts within OSHA 1910 each focus on a distinct area of workplace health and safety:

• Subpart A: General
• Subpart B: Adoption and Extension of Federal Standards
• Subpart D: Walking-Working Surfaces
• Subpart E: Exit Routes and Emergency Planning
• Subpart F: Powered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Platforms
• Subpart G: Occupational Health and Environmental Control
• Subpart H: Hazardous Materials
• Subpart I: Personal Protective Equipment
• Subpart J: General Environmental Controls
• Subpart K: Medical and First Aid
• Subpart L: Fire Protection
• Subpart M: Compressed Gas and Air Equipment
• Subpart N: Materials Handling and Storage
• Subpart O: Machinery and Machine Guarding
• Subpart P: Hand and Portable Powered Tools and Equipment
• Subpart Q: Welding, Cutting, and Brazing
• Subpart R: Special Industries
• Subpart S: Electrical Safety and Work Practices
• Subpart T: Commercial Diving Operations
• Subpart Z: Toxic and Hazardous Substances

Within each of these subparts, you’ll find detailed standards outlining the requirements employers must follow to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. These include rules for walking surfaces, fire prevention, ventilation, and emergency preparedness, ensuring that every aspect of the physical work environment supports employee safety and operational reliability.

Other subparts address task-specific or process hazards, including machine guarding, welding, and chemical handling. They define proper protective measures, safe operating procedures, and maintenance practices. Employers must train workers on these standards and implement controls that eliminate or reduce exposure to hazardous conditions.

Several subparts also integrate national consensus standards, such as those from ANSI and NFPA, which OSHA adopts by reference. These ensure technical consistency across industries. Together, the subparts of Part 1910 form a comprehensive, evolving framework for hazard prevention, employee training, and continuous safety improvement in general industry.

Regular safety audits play a vital role in maintaining compliance with the subparts of Part 1910. By systematically reviewing equipment, procedures, and work areas, employers can identify potential violations before they lead to incidents or citations. Audits also verify that training, documentation, and hazard controls meet OSHA standards, ensuring ongoing workplace safety.

Part 1926: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction

Employers in these industries must familiarize themselves with the specific regulations under their respective parts. While each of these parts is essential, we’ll take a closer look at Part 1926: Construction in particular, due to its broad scope and high incident rates.

Part 1926 of 29 CFR contains OSHA’s Construction Industry Standards, explicitly designed for the high-risk, constantly changing environment of construction sites. These standards establish safety and health requirements for various construction activities, including building, demolition, excavation, and others. Because construction hazards evolve daily, OSHA 1926 provides the specialized framework needed to control risks and prevent serious injuries.

What does CFR part 1926 cover? Subparts within Part 1926 each focus on unique aspects of construction industry health and safety:

• Subpart A: General
• Subpart B: General Interpretations
• Subpart C: General Safety and Health Provisions
• Subpart D: Occupational Health and Environmental Controls
• Subpart E: Personal Protective and Life-Saving Equipment
• Subpart F: Fire Protection and Prevention
• Subpart G: Signs, Signals, and Barricades
• Subpart H: Materials Handling, Storage, Use, and Disposal
• Subpart I: Tools — Hand and Power
• Subpart J: Welding and Cutting
• Subpart K: Electrical
• Subpart L: Scaffolds
• Subpart M: Fall Protection
• Subpart N: Helicopters, Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors
• Subpart O: Motor Vehicles, Mechanical Equipment, and Marine Operations
• Subpart P: Excavations
• Subpart Q: Concrete and Masonry Construction
• Subpart R: Steel Erection
• Subpart S: Underground Construction, Caissons, Cofferdams, and Compressed Air
• Subpart T: Demolition
• Subpart U: Blasting and Use of Explosives
• Subpart V: Electric Power Transmission and Distribution
• Subpart W: Rollover Protective Structures; Overhead Protection
• Subpart X: Stairways and Ladders
• Subpart Y: Commercial Diving Operations
• Subpart Z: Toxic and Hazardous Substances
• Subpart AA: Confined Spaces in Construction
• Subpart CC: Cranes and Derricks in Construction

Because construction sites are temporary and often unpredictable, these standards emphasize proactive hazard assessment, safety planning, and frequent supervision. Employers must train workers, inspect equipment, and maintain job-site documentation to ensure compliance. Adhering to these standards helps prevent the Fatal Four causes of death in construction (falls, struck-by-object incidents, electrocution, and caught-in-or-between incidents) and fosters a safety-first culture on every worksite.

Developing a Health & Safety Program That Maintains 29 CFR Compliance

Maintaining compliance with OSHA’s 29 CFR standards requires a proactive approach built on prevention and accountability. A strong health and safety program transforms compliance from a reactionary process into an ongoing effort that protects employees, reduces liability, and builds a sustainable culture of workplace safety across all levels of an organization.

Every effective program begins with clear management commitment and employee participation. Leadership must set expectations, provide resources, and model safe behavior, while employees play an active role in identifying and reporting hazards. This collaboration fosters transparency and ensures that safety responsibilities are clearly understood, shared, and consistently reinforced throughout daily operations.

Hazard identification and risk assessment are central components of maintaining compliance. Regular site inspections and hazard evaluations help detect unsafe conditions before incidents occur. Employee training is just as necessary, ensuring that all workers possess the knowledge and practical skills to recognize hazards, follow established procedures, and operate equipment safely under various work conditions.

Comprehensive recordkeeping, emergency preparedness, and regular safety audits complete the framework of compliance. Employers must accurately document incidents, test emergency response plans, and continually evaluate their safety performance. By maintaining documentation and implementing corrective actions, companies demonstrate due diligence, readiness for inspections, and a consistent commitment to protecting their workforce and operations.

Simplifying 29 CFR Compliance at Your Facilities

Navigating OSHA’s 29 CFR regulations requires more than familiarizing yourself with the relevant parts. It demands a system capable of delivering continuous compliance. ERA’s Health & Safety Management Solutions provide the tools needed to meet these expectations across all of your obligations. From streamlined audit scheduling and tracking to automated incident reporting and electronic recordkeeping, ERA ensures each element of your health and safety program remains verifiable, organized, and inspection-ready.

You can find out more about how ERA’s software can address your organization’s unique health and safety needs by scheduling a call with one of our project analysts today.

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