1910.119(m): PSM Incident Investigation
Employers must investigate each incident that resulted in, or could reasonably have resulted in, a catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals, starting as promptly as possible and not later than 48 hours after. A team with process knowledge must prepare a report, findings must be resolved and documented, the report reviewed with affected personnel, and reports kept for five years.
Key takeaways
- 1910.119(m) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 14 inspections, with $184,161 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (5), VA (5), OR (1).
- Related part: 1910.119(m)(3) (2 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.119(m) ("Incident investigation") is one requirement inside 1910.119 Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 12 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
(m) Incident investigation. 17 citations
(1) The employer shall investigate each incident which resulted in, or could reasonably have resulted in a catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemical in the workplace. 4 citations
(2) An incident investigation shall be initiated as promptly as possible, but not later than 48 hours following the incident. 2 citations
(3) An incident investigation team shall be established and consist of at least one person knowledgeable in the process involved, including a contract employee if the incident involved work of the contractor, and other persons with appropriate knowledge and experience to thoroughly investigate and analyze the incident. Open (m)(3) 2 citations
(4) A report shall be prepared at the conclusion of the investigation which includes at a minimum: 4 citations
(i) Date of incident;
(ii) Date investigation began;
(iii) A description of the incident;
(iv) The factors that contributed to the incident; and,
(v) Any recommendations resulting from the investigation. 1 citations
(5) The employer shall establish a system to promptly address and resolve the incident report findings and recommendations. Resolutions and corrective actions shall be documented. 4 citations
(6) The report shall be reviewed with all affected personnel whose job tasks are relevant to the incident findings including contract employees where applicable. 1 citations
(7) Incident investigation reports shall be retained for five years.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.119.
Export the list: 14 inspections cited 1910.119(m) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Top states: TN (5), VA (5), OR (1), IL (1), HI (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ACCURATE ENERGETIC SYSTEMS, LLC | MC EWEN, TN | $140,000 |
| CUISINE SOLUTIONS INC. | STERLING, VA | $15,875 |
| CUISINE SOLUTIONS INC. | STERLING, VA | $9,710 |
| HP HOOD LLC | SUFFIELD, CT | $6,482 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.119(m).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.119(m)(3) 2 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How soon must an incident investigation begin?
As promptly as possible, but not later than 48 hours following the incident.
What must the report include?
Date of incident, date investigation began, a description, contributing factors, and any recommendations.
How long are reports kept?
Five years.
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 2026-11-05
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.