1910.261(a): General requirements
Key takeaways
- 1910.261(a) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 2 times in the last 3 years, in 2 inspections, with $22,198 in current penalties.
- Related part: 1910.261(a)(3) General incorporation of standards (2 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.261(a) ("General requirements") is one requirement inside 1910.261 Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). It includes 16 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
(a) General requirements — 2 citations
(1) Application. This section applies to establishments where pulp, paper, and paperboard are manufactured and converted. This section does not apply to logging and the transportation of logs to pulp, paper, and paperboard mills. Open (a)(1)
(2) Standards incorporated by reference. Standards covering issues of occupational safety and health which have general application without regard to any specific industry are incorporated by reference in paragraphs (b) through (m) of this section and in subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph and made applicable under this section. Such standards shall be construed according to the rules set forth in § 1910.5.
(3) General incorporation of standards. Establishments subject to this section shall comply with the following standards of the American National Standards Institute, which are incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6: Open (a)(3) 2 citations
(i) Practice for Industrial Lighting, A11.1—1965 (R-1970).
(ii) Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems, A13.1—1956.
(iii) Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, and Moving Walks, A17.1—1965, including Supplements A17.1a—1967, A17.1b—1968, A17.1c—1969, and A17.1d—1970.
(iv) Practice for the Inspection of Elevators (Inspector's Manual), A17.2—1960, including Suppelements A17.2a—1965 and A17.2b—1967.
(v) Safety Code for Conveyors, Cableways, and Related Equipment, B20.1—1957. Open (a)(3)(v) 2 citations
(vi) Power Piping, B31.1.0—1967 and addenda B31.10a—1969. Fuel Gas Piping, B31.2—1968.
(vii) Identification of Gas-Mask Canisters, K13.1—1967.
(viii) Prevention of Sulfur Fires and Explosions, Z12.12—1968.
(ix) Installation of Blower and Exhaust Systems for Dust, Stock, and Vapor Removal or Conveying, Z33.1—1961.
(4) Other standards. The following standards, which are incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6, shall be considered standards under this section: Open (a)(4)
(i) ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Unfired Pressure Vessels, including addenda 1969.
(ii) Building Exits Code for Life Safety from Fire, NFPA 101—1970. Open (a)(4)(ii)
(iii) Safety in the Handling and Use of Explosives, IME Pamphlet No. 17, July 1960, Institute of Makers of Explosives.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.261.
Where and how often it was cited
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.261(a), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Interpretation of OSHA standards 1910.261(a)(1) and 1910.261(a)(4)(ii) (1990-06-14)
- Installation of handrails on mobile belt loader conveyors. (1977-03-01)
- Mills and calendars in the rubber and plastics industries. (1976-05-07)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.261(a)(3) General incorporation of standards 2 citations
- 1910.261(a)(3)(v) 2 citations
- 1910.261(a)(4) Other standards
- 1910.261(a)(4)(ii)
- 1910.261(a)(1) Application
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Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.261 (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 2026-10-20
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.