1910.1017(b): Definitions
Key takeaways
- 1910.1017(b) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- Related part: 1910.1017(b)(5) Emergency.
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1017(b) ("Definitions") is one requirement inside 1910.1017 Vinyl chloride, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 10 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
(b) Definitions —
(1) Action level means a concentration of vinyl chloride of 0.5 ppm averaged over an 8-hour work day.
(2) Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, or his designee.
(3) Authorized person means any person specifically authorized by the employer whose duties require him to enter a regulated area or any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of exercising an opportunity to observe monitoring and measuring procedures.
(4) Director means the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or his designee.
(5) Emergency means any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, or operation of a relief device which is likely to, or does, result in massive release of vinyl chloride. Open (b)(5)
(6) Fabricated product means a product made wholly or partly from polyvinyl chloride, and which does not require further processing at temperatures, and for times, sufficient to cause mass melting of the polyvinyl chloride resulting in the release of vinyl chloride. Open (b)(6)
(7) Hazardous operation means any operation, procedure, or activity where a release of either vinyl chloride liquid or gas might be expected as a consequence of the operation or because of an accident in the operation, which would result in an employee exposure in excess of the permissible exposure limit. Open (b)(7)
(8) OSHA Area Director means the Director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Area Office having jurisdiction over the geographic area in which the employer's establishment is located.
(9) Polyvinyl chloride means polyvinyl chloride homopolymer or copolymer before such is converted to a fabricated product.
(10) Vinyl chloride means vinyl chloride monomer.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1017.
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Labeling requirements for containers of polyvinyl chloride. (1986-04-30)
- Signs and protective equipment requirements for a vinyl chloride hazardous operation. (1981-04-01)
- Definition of "massive release" of vinyl chloride. (1981-02-13)
- "Massive release" is defined as gaseous vinyl chloride escaping under positive pressure; Clarification of the term "hazardous release";Clarification of protective clothing required to respond to a vi (1977-03-24)
- Definition of vinyl chloride, as related to a fabricated product. (1975-10-17)
Related parts of this rule
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1017 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly
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.
