1926.1101(h)(3)(iii): Half-Mask Respirators for Class II and III Asbestos Work
Employers must give employees an air-purifying half mask respirator, not a filtering facepiece, for Class II or Class III asbestos work without a negative exposure assessment, and for Class III work that disturbs TSI or surfacing ACM or PACM.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iii) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
- OSHA cited it 13 times in the last 3 years, in 13 inspections, with $56,600 in current penalties.
- Most citations: VA (3), NV (2), NJ (2).
- Related part: 1926.1101(h) Respiratory protection (204 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1101(h)(3)(iii) is one requirement inside 1926.1101 Asbestos, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 2 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
(iii) Employers must provide employees with an air-purifying half mask respirator, other than a filtering facepiece respirator, whenever the employees perform: 13 citations
(A) Class II or Class III asbestos work for which no negative exposure assessment is available. Open (h)(3)(iii)(a) 12 citations
(B) Class III asbestos work involving disturbance of TSI or surfacing ACM or PACM.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1101.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: VA (3), NV (2), NJ (2), NC (1), IL (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SEPTON DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC | RENO, NV | $42,560 |
| TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS | TOMS RIVER, NJ | $5,000 |
| PATERSON DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS | PATERSON, NJ | $4,950 |
| CHICAGO SURFACE CUT, INC. | SHOREWOOD, IL | $4,090 |
| 156084 - NATIONAL MILLS, LLC | STANLEY, NC | $0 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1101(h)(3)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Requirements for tapping or tying-in to asbestos containing cement water pipes for construction. (2007-05-29)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1101(h) Respiratory protection 204 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2) Respirator program 80 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2)(i) 80 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(1) General 76 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3) Respirator selection 48 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv) 27 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv)(A) 16 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iii)(A) 12 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i) 8 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i)(A) 8 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2)(ii)
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i)(B)
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 respirator is required?
An air-purifying half mask respirator, other than a filtering facepiece respirator.
When is it required for Class II work?
When no negative exposure assessment is available.
Is a filtering facepiece acceptable?
No. The rule excludes filtering facepiece respirators.
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 2026-10-23
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.