1926.1101(i): Protective Clothing for Asbestos Work
Employers must provide or require protective clothing such as coveralls, head coverings, gloves and foot coverings for workers exposed above the TWA or excursion limit, without a required negative exposure assessment, or doing large Class I TSI or surfacing removals. Laundering must prevent fiber release, contaminated clothing goes in sealed labeled impermeable bags, and the competent person checks worksuits each shift.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1101(i) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
- OSHA cited it 76 times in the last 3 years, in 73 inspections, with $73,290 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (48), NY (7), IL (5).
- Related part: 1926.1101(i)(1) General (72 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1101(i) ("Protective clothing") is one requirement inside 1926.1101 Asbestos, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 8 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
(i) Protective clothing — 76 citations
(1) General. The employer shall provide or require the use of protective clothing, such as coveralls or similar whole-body clothing, head coverings, gloves, and foot coverings for any employee exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos that exceed the TWA and/or excursion limit prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section, or for which a required negative exposure assessment is not produced, or for any employee performing Class I operations which involve the removal of over 25 linear or 10 square feet of TSI or surfacing ACM and PACM. Open (i)(1) 72 citations
(2) Laundering.
(i) The employer shall ensure that laundering of contaminated clothing is done so as to prevent the release of airborne asbestos in excess of the TWA or excursion limit prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section.
(ii) Any employer who gives contaminated clothing to another person for laundering shall inform such person of the requirement in paragraph (i)(2)(i) of this section to effectively prevent the release of airborne asbestos in excess of the TWA and excursion limit prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section.
(3) Contaminated clothing. Contaminated clothing shall be transported in sealed impermeable bags, or other closed, impermeable containers, and be labeled in accordance with paragraph (k) of this section. 2 citations
(4) Inspection of protective clothing. 2 citations
(i) The competent person shall examine worksuits worn by employees at least once per workshift for rips or tears that may occur during performance of work.
(ii) When rips or tears are detected while an employee is working, rips and tears shall be immediately mended, or the worksuit shall be immediately replaced. 2 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1101.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 24 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 18 |
Top states: MI (48), NY (7), IL (5), OR (3), VA (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ACCOLADE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACTING, CORP. | BOSTON, MA | $33,103 |
| JM ROMICH ENTERPRISES, INC | GREECE, NY | $5,250 |
| NORTHERN HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. | LANSING, MI | $5,000 |
| TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS | TOMS RIVER, NJ | $5,000 |
| EMSL MANAGEMENT, LLC | MELBOURNE, FL | $4,634 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1101(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification of the terms street clothing and work clothing as used in the asbestos standard for construction work. (2010-08-17)
- Requirements for tapping or tying-in to asbestos containing cement water pipes for construction. (2007-05-29)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1101(i)(1) General 72 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When is protective clothing required?
For exposure above the TWA and/or excursion limit, when a required negative exposure assessment is not produced, or for Class I removal of over 25 linear or 10 square feet of TSI or surfacing ACM and PACM.
How must contaminated clothing be transported?
In sealed impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers, labeled under paragraph (k).
How often are worksuits checked?
The competent person must examine them at least once per workshift for rips or tears.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1101 (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 2026-10-20
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.