1910.119(h)(3): Contract Employer Responsibilities
Contract employers at process safety management sites must train each contract employee in safe work practices, instruct them on fire, explosion and toxic release hazards and the emergency action plan, and document the training with name, date and how understanding was verified. They must make sure contract employees follow facility safety rules and tell the host employer about unique hazards from their work or hazards they find.
Key takeaways
- 1910.119(h)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 23 times in the last 3 years, in 18 inspections, with $216,124 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (6), CO (6), VA (4).
- Related part: 1910.119(h) Contractors (49 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.119(h)(3) ("Contract employer responsibilities") is one requirement inside 1910.119 Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 5 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
(3) Contract employer responsibilities. 23 citations
(i) The contract employer shall assure that each contract employee is trained in the work practices necessary to safely perform his/her job. 4 citations
(ii) The contract employer shall assure that each contract employee is instructed in the known potential fire, explosion, or toxic release hazards related to his/her job and the process, and the applicable provisions of the emergency action plan. Open (h)(3)(ii) 6 citations
(iii) The contract employer shall document that each contract employee has received and understood the training required by this paragraph. The contract employer shall prepare a record which contains the identity of the contract employee, the date of training, and the means used to verify that the employee understood the training. 3 citations
(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. Open (h)(3)(iv) 10 citations
(v) The contract employer shall advise the employer of any unique hazards presented by the contract employer's work, or of any hazards found by the contract employer's work.
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).
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 | 10 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: TX (6), CO (6), VA (4), LA (2), IA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP, LLC | GEISMAR, LA | $40,328 |
| REPCON, INC. | DEER PARK, TX | $33,100 |
| TURNER INDUSTRIES | FREEPORT, TX | $16,550 |
| UPS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC | ARDMORE, OK | $16,550 |
| STERLING INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION, INC. | HOUSTON, TX | $14,518 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.119(h)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Employer Responsibilities and Contractor Responsibilities under the PSM Standard (2022-02-16)
- Requirement for flame-resistant clothing in petrochemical plant covered by PSM. (2006-03-07)
- Applicability of PSM standard to on-site use of methane as fuel. (2000-09-21)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.119(h) Contractors 49 citations
- 1910.119(h)(2) Employer responsibilities 26 citations
- 1910.119(h)(3)(iv) 10 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
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Frequently asked questions
What training must contract employers give?
Training in the work practices needed to safely do the job, plus instruction on known fire, explosion or toxic release hazards and the emergency action plan.
What must the training record show?
The contract employee's identity, the date of training, and the means used to verify understanding.
What must contract employers tell the host employer?
Any unique hazards from the contract employer's work, or hazards found by that work.
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.