1926.1101(j)(1)(ii): Asbestos Decontamination Area Entry Steps
Employers must ensure employees enter the asbestos decontamination area through the clean room, remove street clothing and store it in a locker provided for them, and put on protective clothing and respiratory protection before leaving the clean room. Before entering the regulated area, employees must pass through the equipment room.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1101(j)(1)(ii) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
- OSHA cited it 12 times in the last 3 years, in 12 inspections, with $15,239 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (10), NV (1), MO (1).
- Related part: 1926.1101(j) Hygiene facilities and practices for employees (116 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1101(j)(1)(ii) ("Decontamination area entry procedures") is one requirement inside 1926.1101 Asbestos, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 4 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
(ii) Decontamination area entry procedures. The employer shall ensure that employees: 12 citations
(A) Enter the decontamination area through the clean room;
(B) Remove and deposit street clothing within a locker provided for their use; and 1 citations
(C) Put on protective clothing and respiratory protection before leaving the clean room. 1 citations
(D) Before entering the regulated area, the employer shall ensure that employees pass through the equipment room.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1101.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: MI (10), NV (1), MO (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| GGG DEMOLITION, INC. | LAS VEGAS, NV | $11,292 |
| B & R INSULATION, INC. | KANSAS CITY, MO | $3,547 |
| LEADHEAD CONSTRUCTION, LLC | DETROIT, MI | $400 |
| TOTAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LLC | OSSINEKE, MI | $0 |
| DETROIT ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, LLC | FLINT, MI | $0 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1101(j)(1)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.1101(j)(1)(ii).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1101(j) Hygiene facilities and practices for employees 116 citations
- 1926.1101(j)(1) 60 citations
- 1926.1101(j)(2) 56 citations
- 1926.1101(j)(2)(i) 46 citations
- 1926.1101(j)(1)(i) Decontamination areas 33 citations
- 1926.1101(j)(1)(iii) Decontamination area exit procedures 13 citations
- 1926.1101(j)(1)(i)(B) Shower area 8 citations
- 1926.1101(j)(4) Smoking in work areas
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
Where do workers enter the decontamination area?
Through the clean room.
What happens to street clothes?
They are removed and stored in a locker provided for the employee.
When must respirators and protective clothing go on?
Before leaving the clean room, and employees then pass through the equipment room before entering the regulated area.
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 2026-10-23
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.