1910.1001(j)(3): Building Owner Duties for Asbestos
Building and facility owners must determine the presence, location and quantity of asbestos-containing material (ACM) and presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) at the work site, keep records of it for as long as they own the building and pass them to the next owner. Owners and employers must tell employers and employees doing housekeeping where ACM and PACM are that they may contact.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1001(j)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 265 times in the last 3 years, in 208 inspections, with $382,853 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (126), CT (30), NJ (29).
- Related part: 1910.1001(j) Communication of hazards to employees—Introduction (467 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3) ("Duties of employers and building and facility owners") is one requirement inside 1910.1001 Asbestos, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 3 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(3) Duties of employers and building and facility owners. 265 citations
(i) Building and facility owners shall determine the presence, location, and quantity of ACM and/or PACM at the work site. Employers and building and facility owners shall exercise due diligence in complying with these requirements to inform employers and employees about the presence and location of ACM and PACM. Open (j)(3)(i) 197 citations
(ii) Building and facility owners shall maintain records of all information required to be provided pursuant to this section and/or otherwise known to the building owner concerning the presence, location and quantity of ACM and PACM in the building/facility. Such records shall be kept for the duration of ownership and shall be transferred to successive owners. 4 citations
(iii) Building and facility owners shall inform employers of employees, and employers shall inform employees who will perform housekeeping activities in areas which contain ACM and/or PACM of the presence and location of ACM and/or PACM in such areas which may be contacted during such activities. Open (j)(3)(iii) 64 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1001.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 86 |
| 2025 | 92 |
| 2026 | 65 |
Top states: MI (126), CT (30), NJ (29), OR (13), AK (9)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. POSTAL SERVICE - EASTON | EASTON, PA | $20,000 |
| 317744237 - ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY OF LANE COUNTY INC | THE DALLES, OR | $14,576 |
| EDISON TOWNSHIP BUILDING | EDISON, NJ | $14,000 |
| EAST ORANGE MUNICIPAL COURT | EAST ORANGE, NJ | $14,000 |
| 317744321 - JBH PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS LLC | PORTLAND, OR | $10,932 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1001(j)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1001(j)(3).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1001(j) Communication of hazards to employees—Introduction 467 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(3)(i) 197 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(7) Employee information and training 133 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(7)(iv) 125 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(3)(iii) 64 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(5) Warning labels 31 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(5)(i) Labeling 30 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(4) Warning signs 20 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(1) Hazard communication—general 14 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(4)(iv) 11 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(6)(i) 1 citations
- 1910.1001(j)(6) 1 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Who must find out where asbestos is in a building?
Building and facility owners must determine the presence, location and quantity of ACM and/or PACM at the work site.
How long must owners keep asbestos records?
For the duration of ownership, and the records must be transferred to the next owner.
Do housekeeping workers need to be told about asbestos?
Yes. They must be informed of the presence and location of ACM and/or PACM in areas they may contact during their work.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1001 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.