1926.1101(o)(3): Asbestos Competent Person Inspections
The asbestos competent person must make frequent and regular job site inspections: at least once each work shift for Class I jobs and whenever employees request, and at intervals enough to catch changed conditions for Class II, III and IV jobs. On Class I or II work, the competent person sets up and checks containment, controls entry and exit, supervises exposure monitoring, and ensures proper respirators, protective clothing, engineering controls, work practices and decontamination.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1101(o)(3) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
- OSHA cited it 35 times in the last 3 years, in 34 inspections, with $36,175 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (30), VA (5).
- Related part: 1926.1101(o) Competent person (63 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1101(o)(3) ("Additional inspections") is one requirement inside 1926.1101 Asbestos, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 11 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
(3) Additional inspections. In addition, the competent person shall make frequent and regular inspections of the job sites, in order to perform the duties set out below in paragraph (o)(3)(i) of this section. For Class I jobs, on-site inspections shall be made at least once during each work shift, and at any time at employee request. For Class II, III, and IV jobs, on-site inspections shall be made at intervals sufficient to assess whether conditions have changed, and at any reasonable time at employee request. 35 citations
(i) On all worksites where employees are engaged in Class I or II asbestos work, the competent person designated in accordance with paragraph (e)(6) of this section shall perform or supervise the following duties, as applicable: Open (o)(3)(i) 32 citations
(A) Set up the regulated area, enclosure, or other containment;
(B) Ensure (by on-site inspection) the integrity of the enclosure or containment; 1 citations
(C) Set up procedures to control entry to and exit from the enclosure and/or area;
(D) Supervise all employee exposure monitoring required by this section and ensure that it is conducted as required by paragraph (f) of this section;
(E) Ensure that employees working within the enclosure and/or using glove bags wear respirators and protective clothing as required by paragraphs (h) and (i) of this section;
(F) Ensure through on-site supervision, that employees set up, use, and remove engineering controls, use work practices and personal protective equipment in compliance with all requirements; 1 citations
(G) Ensure that employees use the hygiene facilities and observe the decontamination procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this section;
(H) Ensure that through on-site inspection, engineering controls are functioning properly and employees are using proper work practices; and, 1 citations
(I) Ensure that notification requirement in paragraph (k) of this section are met.
(ii) [Reserved]
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 | 9 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Top states: MI (30), VA (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MWV ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. | DETROIT, MI | $12,600 |
| ASHLAND SPECIALTY INGREDIENTS | HOPEWELL, VA | $10,325 |
| NORTHERN HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. | LANSING, MI | $5,000 |
| ACE EXCAVATING & GRAVEL INC. | KALAMAZOO, MI | $4,000 |
| SEMCO SERVICES, INC. | BLACKSBURG, VA | $3,250 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1101(o)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1101(o) Competent person 63 citations
- 1926.1101(o)(3)(i) 32 citations
- 1926.1101(o)(1) General 18 citations
- 1926.1101(o)(4) Training for the competent person 10 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How often must the competent person inspect a Class I asbestos job?
At least once during each work shift, and at any time at employee request.
What about Class II, III and IV jobs?
At intervals sufficient to assess whether conditions have changed, and at any reasonable time at employee request.
Who sets up the regulated area on Class I or II work?
The competent person designated under paragraph (e)(6) performs or supervises it.
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 2026-10-19
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.