1910.1052(h): Methylene Chloride Protective Clothing
Where needed to prevent skin or eye irritation from methylene chloride (MC), employers must provide clean MC-resistant protective clothing and equipment at no cost and make sure workers use it. Employers must clean, launder, repair and replace it as needed to keep it effective, and are responsible for its safe disposal.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1052(h) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 26 times in the last 3 years, in 26 inspections, with $18,865 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (6), NC (3), MD (2).
- Related part: 1910.1052(h)(1) (26 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1052(h) ("Protective Work Clothing and Equipment") is one requirement inside 1910.1052 Methylene chloride, 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
(h) Protective Work Clothing and Equipment. 26 citations
(1) Where needed to prevent MC-induced skin or eye irritation, the employer shall provide clean protective clothing and equipment which is resistant to MC, at no cost to the employee, and shall ensure that each affected employee uses it. Eye and face protection shall meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.133 or 29 CFR 1915.153, as applicable. Open (h)(1) 26 citations
(2) The employer shall clean, launder, repair and replace all protective clothing and equipment required by this paragraph as needed to maintain their effectiveness.
(3) The employer shall be responsible for the safe disposal of such clothing and equipment.
See appendix A for examples of disposal procedures that will satisfy this requirement.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1052.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1052(h).
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 | 10 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: TN (6), NC (3), MD (2), WI (2), MN (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BSN SPORTS, LLC | NORWALK, CT | $5,000 |
| EUROFINS ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING NORTHEAST, LLC | NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI | $4,220 |
| KAMESI CORPORATION | NEW YORK, NY | $3,227 |
| NAILISM CORP. | MOONACHIE, NJ | $1,383 |
| MAIN STREET CUSTOM FINISHING, INC. | PEYTON, CO | $1,360 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1052(h), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1052(h).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1052(h)(1) 26 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Who pays for MC protective clothing?
The employer provides it at no cost to the employee.
Who cleans and repairs it?
The employer must clean, launder, repair and replace it as needed to keep it effective.
Who handles disposal?
The employer is responsible for safe disposal of the clothing and equipment.
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 2026-10-21
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.