1910.119(j)(4)(ii): Good Engineering Practice for PSM Inspections
Employers covered by Process Safety Management must make sure inspection and testing procedures for process equipment follow recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices.
Key takeaways
- 1910.119(j)(4)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 17 inspections, with $147,521 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (3), VA (2), TX (2).
- Related part: 1910.119(j) Mechanical integrity (227 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(ii) 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
(ii) Inspection and testing procedures shall follow recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices. 17 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.119.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: MI (3), VA (2), TX (2), PA (2), CT (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ACCURATE ENERGETIC SYSTEMS, LLC | MC EWEN, TN | $70,000 |
| THE PICTSWEET COMPANY | BRIDGEVILLE, DE | $14,250 |
| AMERICOLD LOGISTICS, LLC | MOUNTVILLE, PA | $13,005 |
| CELANESE ACETATE LLC | NARROWS, VA | $11,700 |
| BAE SYSTEMS ORDNANCE SYSTEMS INC. | RADFORD, VA | $9,795 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.119(j)(4)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.119(j)(4)(ii).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.119(j) Mechanical integrity 227 citations
- 1910.119(j)(4) Inspection and testing 96 citations
- 1910.119(j)(2) Written procedures 72 citations
- 1910.119(j)(5) Equipment deficiencies 35 citations
- 1910.119(j)(4)(i) 29 citations
- 1910.119(j)(4)(iii) 27 citations
- 1910.119(j)(4)(iv) 20 citations
- 1910.119(j)(3) Training for process maintenance activities 13 citations
- 1910.119(j)(6) Quality assurance 8 citations
- 1910.119(j)(6)(ii) 7 citations
- 1910.119(j)(1) Application 3 citations
- 1910.119(j)(6)(i)
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 standard must PSM inspection procedures follow?
Recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices.
Does this cover testing as well as inspection?
Yes. Both inspection and testing procedures must follow these practices.
What part of PSM is this?
Mechanical integrity, 1910.119(j).
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.