1910.1048(d)(1): Formaldehyde Exposure Monitoring
Employers covered by the formaldehyde standard must monitor employees to determine their exposure, unless objective data show exposure cannot reach the action level or STEL under foreseeable conditions. Representative samples must reflect full-shift or short-term exposure and be taken for each job classification in each work area for each shift, unless data show shifts are equivalent.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1048(d)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 45 times in the last 3 years, in 45 inspections, with $77,373 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (14), MN (3), TN (3).
- Related part: 1910.1048(d) Exposure monitoring (72 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1048(d)(1) ("General") is one requirement inside 1910.1048 Formaldehyde, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 4 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
(1) General. 45 citations
(i) Each employer who has a workplace covered by this standard shall monitor employees to determine their exposure to formaldehyde. Open (d)(1)(i) 43 citations
(ii) Exception. Where the employer documents, using objective data, that the presence of formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing products in the workplace cannot result in airborne concentrations of formaldehyde that would cause any employee to be exposed at or above the action level or the STEL under foreseeable conditions of use, the employer will not be required to measure employee exposure to formaldehyde.
(iii) When an employee's exposure is determined from representative sampling, the measurements used shall be representative of the employee's full shift or short-term exposure to formaldehyde, as appropriate.
(iv) Representative samples for each job classification in each work area shall be taken for each shift unless the employer can document with objective data that exposure levels for a given job classification are equivalent for different work shifts. 2 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1048.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 10 |
Top states: MI (14), MN (3), TN (3), TX (2), MD (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WESTON SOLUTIONS INC | MILLVILLE, NJ | $11,823 |
| HARMSCO INC. | RIVIERA BEACH, FL | $11,292 |
| NEW MEXICO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENCE | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $9,562 |
| TRIMAC TRANSPORTATION INC. | BEAUMONT, TX | $7,366 |
| CPX2024XT3633X0170 - WESTERN TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $6,222 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1048(d)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1048(d)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1048(d) Exposure monitoring 72 citations
- 1910.1048(d)(1)(i) 43 citations
- 1910.1048(d)(2) Initial monitoring 25 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
Must formaldehyde exposure be monitored?
Yes, unless the employer documents with objective data that exposure cannot reach the action level or STEL under foreseeable conditions.
What must representative samples show?
The employee's full shift or short-term exposure, as appropriate.
Must every shift be sampled?
Yes, for each job classification in each work area, unless objective data show exposure is equivalent across shifts.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1048 (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 2026-10-21
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.