1910.9: Compliance Duty for Each Employee
When a standard requires employers to provide PPE or training, the duty applies separately to each covered employee. The employer must provide PPE to each employee who must use it and train each affected employee as the standard requires, and each failure for an employee may be considered a separate violation.
Key takeaways
- 1910.9 is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart A).
- OSHA cited it 75 times in the last 3 years, in 75 inspections, with $597,695 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: OH (18), MA (8), FL (6).
- Most-cited part: 1910.9(b) Training (71 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.9, "Compliance duties owed to each employee", is an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart A). It has 2 numbered 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
Show the full text of 1910.9 (2 paragraphs)
(a) Personal protective equipment. Standards in this part requiring the employer to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators and other types of PPE, because of hazards to employees impose a separate compliance duty with respect to each employee covered by the requirement. The employer must provide PPE to each employee required to use the PPE, and each failure to provide PPE to an employee may be considered a separate violation. Open (a) 4 citations
(b) Training. Standards in this part requiring training on hazards and related matters, such as standards requiring that employees receive training or that the employer train employees, provide training to employees, or institute or implement a training program, impose a separate compliance duty with respect to each employee covered by the requirement. The employer must train each affected employee in the manner required by the standard, and each failure to train an employee may be considered a separate violation. Open (b) 71 citations
[73 FR 75583, Dec. 12, 2008]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 75 inspections cited 1910.9 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.9.
At 12:34 p.m. on November 19, 2024, Employee #1, employed as a Pro Loader at a home improvement retail store, was transporting a flat lumber cart loaded with 18 sheets of unsecured 4x8-foot Advantech plywood. As he pushed the cart from the Lumber & Composites…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 24 |
| 2026 | 20 |
Top states: OH (18), MA (8), FL (6), TX (5), NY (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FISCHBACH & MOORE ELECTRIC GROUP, LLC | GREENLAND, NH | $36,177 |
| MONTI, INC. | CINCINNATI, OH | $16,550 |
| LIGNETICS OF AR AND MO, INC | MOUNTAIN VIEW, AR | $16,550 |
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | SPRING HILL, FL | $16,550 |
| THE MARTIN-BROWER COMPANY, L.L.C. | FAIRFIELD, OH | $16,131 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.9.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1910.9(b) Training 71 citations
- 1910.9(a) Personal protective equipment 4 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Does the PPE duty apply to each worker individually?
Yes. Employers must provide PPE to each employee required to use it, and each failure may be considered a separate violation.
Does the same apply to training?
Yes. The employer must train each affected employee as required, and each failure to train an employee may be considered a separate violation.
Does this include respirators?
Yes. The rule names respirators and other types of PPE.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.9 (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 2026-11-06
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.