1926.1101(e): Asbestos Regulated Areas
Employers must conduct all Class I, II and III asbestos work inside regulated areas, and other covered work too where airborne asbestos exceeds or may exceed a PEL. Regulated areas must be marked off with signs, limited to authorized persons, provide proper respirators where required, ban eating, drinking, smoking, chewing and cosmetics, and have all work supervised by a competent person.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1101(e) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
- OSHA cited it 143 times in the last 3 years, in 98 inspections, with $225,821 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (92), IL (9), NV (8).
- Related part: 1926.1101(e)(1) (84 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1101(e) ("Regulated areas") is one requirement inside 1926.1101 Asbestos, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 6 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
(e) Regulated areas. 143 citations
(1) All Class I, II and III asbestos work shall be conducted within regulated areas. All other operations covered by this standard shall be conducted within a regulated area where airborne concentrations of asbestos exceed, or there is a reasonable possibility they may exceed a PEL. Regulated areas shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3),(4) and (5) of this section. Open (e)(1) 84 citations
(2) Demarcation. The regulated area shall be demarcated in any manner that minimizes the number of persons within the area and protects persons outside the area from exposure to airborne asbestos. Where critical barriers or negative pressure enclosures are used, they may demarcate the regulated area. Signs shall be provided and displayed pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (k)(7) of this section. 6 citations
(3) Access. Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons and to persons authorized by the Act or regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(4) Respirators. All persons entering a regulated area where employees are required pursuant to paragraph (h)(1) of this section to wear respirators shall be supplied with a respirator selected in accordance with paragraph (h)(3) of this section. 2 citations
(5) Prohibited activities. The employer shall ensure that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in the regulated area. 3 citations
(6) Competent Persons. The employer shall ensure that all asbestos work performed within regulated areas is supervised by a competent person, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section. The duties of the competent person are set out in paragraph (o) of this section. Open (e)(6) 48 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1101.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2025 | 55 |
| 2026 | 28 |
Top states: MI (92), IL (9), NV (8), OR (5), NY (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ACCOLADE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACTING, CORP. | BOSTON, MA | $33,103 |
| MEDICAL ASSOCIATES CLINIC, P.C. | DUBUQUE, IA | $14,895 |
| 317736547 - LINCOLN COUNTY SD | NEWPORT, OR | $9,223 |
| TROY BOILER WORKS, INC. | GERMANTOWN, NY | $7,904 |
| JM ROMICH ENTERPRISES, INC | GREECE, NY | $5,250 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1101(e), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Construction industry asbestos standard definition of "regulated area" and requirements for work involving materials of <1% asbestos for demolition and sheetrock projects. (2005-02-01)
- Compliance requirements for renovation work involving material containing less than 1% asbestos (2003-11-24)
- Portam Process asbestos abatement equipment use for asbestos removal. (1990-08-23)
- Trailer mounted vacuum system and bagging station used in asbestos abatement. (1990-08-10)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1101(e)(1) 84 citations
- 1926.1101(e)(6) Competent Persons 48 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Which asbestos work must be done in a regulated area?
All Class I, II and III asbestos work, plus other covered operations where airborne asbestos exceeds or may reasonably exceed a PEL.
Can workers eat or drink in a regulated area?
No. Eating, drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco or gum, and applying cosmetics are prohibited.
Who must supervise asbestos work in regulated areas?
A competent person as defined in the standard.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1101 (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.