1910.119(h)(3)(iv): Contract Employees Follow Facility Safety Rules
Contract employers must make sure each contract employee follows the facility's safety rules, including the safe work practices required under paragraph (f)(4).
Key takeaways
- 1910.119(h)(3)(iv) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 10 times in the last 3 years, in 10 inspections, with $110,583 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (5), IA (1), OH (1).
- Related part: 1910.119(h) Contractors (49 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.119(h)(3)(iv) is one requirement inside 1910.119 Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). 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
(iv) The contract employer shall assure that each contract employee follows the safety rules of the facility including the safe work practices required by paragraph (f)(4) of this section. 10 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.119.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.119(h)(3)(iv).
At 10:00 p.m. on October 10, 2024, an employee and coworker working as boilermakers for a facilities support service were working on a 12-inch pipe to flip the blind. The pipe released hydrogen sulfide gas exposing the crew. The employee died from poisoning from the…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: TX (5), IA (1), OH (1), SD (1), LA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| REPCON, INC. | DEER PARK, TX | $16,550 |
| TURNER INDUSTRIES | FREEPORT, TX | $16,550 |
| UPS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC | ARDMORE, OK | $16,550 |
| STERLING INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION, INC. | HOUSTON, TX | $14,518 |
| TURNAROUND SERVICES, LLC | HOUSTON, TX | $11,916 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.119(h)(3)(iv), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.119(h)(3)(iv).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.119(h) Contractors 49 citations
- 1910.119(h)(2) Employer responsibilities 26 citations
- 1910.119(h)(3) Contract employer responsibilities 23 citations
- 1910.119(h)(2)(i) 9 citations
- 1910.119(h)(3)(ii) 6 citations
- 1910.119(h)(2)(vi) 4 citations
- 1910.119(h)(2)(iv) 1 citations
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
Who is responsible?
The contract employer.
What must contract employees follow?
The safety rules of the facility, including safe work practices required by paragraph (f)(4).
Does this apply to every contract employee?
Yes. It applies to each contract employee.
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 2026-10-21
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.