1910.119(h): Process Safety Rules for Contractors
This paragraph covers contractors doing maintenance, repair, turnaround, renovation or specialty work on or near a covered process, not incidental services like janitorial or delivery. The host employer must check contractors' safety records, tell them about fire, explosion and toxic release hazards and the emergency plan, control their entry and exit, evaluate their performance and keep an injury and illness log, while contract employers must train their workers on safe practices and the known hazards.
Key takeaways
- 1910.119(h) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 49 times in the last 3 years, in 42 inspections, with $368,082 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (8), CO (7), VA (6).
- Related part: 1910.119(h)(2) Employer responsibilities (26 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.119(h) ("Contractors") is one requirement inside 1910.119 Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 14 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
(h) Contractors — 49 citations
(1) Application. This paragraph applies to contractors performing maintenance or repair, turnaround, major renovation, or specialty work on or adjacent to a covered process. It does not apply to contractors providing incidental services which do not influence process safety, such as janitorial work, food and drink services, laundry, delivery or other supply services.
(2) Employer responsibilities. Open (h)(2) 26 citations
(i) The employer, when selecting a contractor, shall obtain and evaluate information regarding the contract employer's safety performance and programs. Open (h)(2)(i) 9 citations
(ii) The employer shall inform contract employers of the known potential fire, explosion, or toxic release hazards related to the contractor's work and the process. 3 citations
(iii) The employer shall explain to contract employers the applicable provisions of the emergency action plan required by paragraph (n) of this section. 4 citations
(iv) The employer shall develop and implement safe work practices consistent with paragraph (f)(4) of this section, to control the entrance, presence and exit of contract employers and contract employees in covered process areas. Open (h)(2)(iv) 1 citations
(v) The employer shall periodically evaluate the performance of contract employers in fulfilling their obligations as specified in paragraph (h)(3) of this section. 2 citations
(vi) The employer shall maintain a contract employee injury and illness log related to the contractor's work in process areas. Open (h)(2)(vi) 4 citations
(3) Contract employer responsibilities. Open (h)(3) 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).
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 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 15 |
Top states: TX (8), CO (7), VA (6), MI (5), MN (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP, LLC | GEISMAR, LA | $40,328 |
| REPCON, INC. | DEER PARK, TX | $33,100 |
| 107317 - HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION | AUSTIN, MN | $22,400 |
| DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY, L.P. | THREE RIVERS, TX | $16,550 |
| TURNER INDUSTRIES | FREEPORT, TX | $16,550 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.119(h), 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)
- Requirements for the control of personnel entering a facility under the Process Safety Management standard. (2005-03-16)
- Applicability of PSM standard to on-site use of methane as fuel. (2000-09-21)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.119(h)(2) Employer responsibilities 26 citations
- 1910.119(h)(3) Contract employer responsibilities 23 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
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
Does process safety management cover janitorial contractors?
No. It does not apply to incidental services that do not influence process safety, such as janitorial, food, laundry or delivery.
What must the host employer tell contractors?
The known potential fire, explosion or toxic release hazards related to their work and the process, and the applicable parts of the emergency action plan.
Who trains the contract employees?
The contract employer must assure each contract employee is trained in the work practices needed to do the job safely.
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.