1910.1052(c): Methylene Chloride Exposure Limits
Employers must make sure no employee is exposed to methylene chloride in the air above 25 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average, or above 125 ppm measured over a 15-minute sampling period.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1052(c) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 20 times in the last 3 years, in 14 inspections, with $69,863 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: WI (5), CO (4), PA (2).
- Related part: 1910.1052(c)(2) Short-term exposure limit (STEL) (13 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1052(c) ("Permissible exposure limits (PELs)") is one requirement inside 1910.1052 Methylene chloride, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 2 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
(c) Permissible exposure limits (PELs) — 20 citations
(1) Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) PEL. The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of MC in excess of twenty-five parts of MC per million parts of air (25 ppm) as an 8-hour TWA. Open (c)(1) 7 citations
(2) Short-term exposure limit (STEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of MC in excess of one hundred and twenty-five parts of MC per million parts of air (125 ppm) as determined over a sampling period of fifteen minutes. Open (c)(2) 13 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1052.
Export the list: 14 inspections cited 1910.1052(c) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1052(c).
At 7:10 p.m. on October 29, 2024, an employee was scraping paint from a bathtub using a paint stripper containing 70-90% methylene chloride (Hoodstrip-888 Semi Paste Remover). The employee became unconscious due to inhaling methylene chloride vapors above the short-term exposure limit (STEL) and subsequently…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Top states: WI (5), CO (4), PA (2), NY (2), TN (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SUNFLOWER MANUFACTURING, LLC | HUDSON, CO | $11,916 |
| AGLOGIC CHEMICAL, LLC | WOODBINE, GA | $11,585 |
| THE SAYLES COMPANY LLC | COLUMBUS, OH | $9,268 |
| CTH VENTURES, LLC | YEAGERTOWN, PA | $6,904 |
| KENNETH DUGENSKE | WAUPACA, WI | $6,567 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1052(c).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1052(c)(2) Short-term exposure limit (STEL) 13 citations
- 1910.1052(c)(1) Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) PEL 7 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 8-hour limit for methylene chloride?
No employee may be exposed in excess of 25 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
What is the short-term limit?
No employee may be exposed in excess of 125 ppm determined over a sampling period of fifteen minutes.
Do both limits apply?
Yes. The employer must ensure exposure stays within both limits.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1052 (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 2026-11-06
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.