1910.119(e)(3)(vi): Human Factors in Process Hazard Analysis
The process hazard analysis must address human factors.
Key takeaways
- 1910.119(e)(3)(vi) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 15 times in the last 3 years, in 15 inspections, with $138,175 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: OH (2), PA (2), OR (1).
- Related part: 1910.119(e) Process hazard analysis (165 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.119(e)(3)(vi) is one requirement inside 1910.119 Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). 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
(vi) Human factors; and 15 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.119.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.119(e)(3)(vi).
At 8:15 a.m. on July 3, 2024, Employee #1, Employee #2, and Employee #3 were inserting smoke composition material into aluminum pyrotechnic vessels when an explosion occurred. Employee #1 was fatally injured. Employee #2 was hospitalized, and Employee #3 sustained non-hospitalized injuries. The incident involved…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: OH (2), PA (2), OR (1), KS (1), HI (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ACCURATE ENERGETIC SYSTEMS, LLC | MC EWEN, TN | $70,000 |
| FULLER INDUSTRIES, INC. | GREAT BEND, KS | $16,147 |
| GENERAL DYNAMICS ORDNANCE AND TACTICAL SYSTEMS, INC. | HAMPTON, AR | $16,131 |
| VANDEMARK CHEMICAL, INC. | LOCKPORT, NY | $11,250 |
| OLYMPIA FOOD INDUSTRIES INC. | FRANKLIN PARK, IL | $10,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.119(e)(3)(vi), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.119(e)(3)(vi).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.119(e) Process hazard analysis 165 citations
- 1910.119(e)(3) 77 citations
- 1910.119(e)(1) 43 citations
- 1910.119(e)(5) 23 citations
- 1910.119(e)(3)(i) 20 citations
- 1910.119(e)(6) 15 citations
- 1910.119(e)(3)(iii) 14 citations
- 1910.119(e)(3)(v) 10 citations
- 1910.119(e)(3)(iv) 10 citations
- 1910.119(e)(4) 2 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
What must a process hazard analysis address?
Among other items, it must address human factors.
Which standard is this?
1910.119(e)(3)(vi), Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals.
What are human factors?
How people interact with the process, such as the chance of human error.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.119 (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.