1926.20(f): Separate PPE and Training Duty for Each Employee
Construction employers must provide required PPE, including respirators, to each employee who needs it, and must train each affected employee as the standards require. Each employee is a separate compliance duty, so each failure to provide PPE or training to an employee may be considered a separate violation.
Key takeaways
- 1926.20(f) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart C).
- OSHA cited it 27 times in the last 3 years, in 22 inspections, with $156,716 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: AK (8), FL (5), NC (3).
- Related part: 1926.20(f)(2) Training (15 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.20(f) ("Compliance duties owed to each employee") is one requirement inside 1926.20 General safety and health provisions, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart C). It includes 2 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
(f) Compliance duties owed to each employee — 27 citations
(1) 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 (f)(1) 12 citations
(2) 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 (f)(2) 15 citations
[44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 58 FR 35078, June 30, 1993; 73 FR 75588, Dec. 12, 2008; 85 FR 8735, Feb. 18, 2020; 85 FR 8735, Feb. 18, 2020]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.20.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.20(f).
On October 11, 2024, an employee working for a remediation contractor was working from a ladder installing soffit cladding on a one-story single-family house. The employee fell from the ladder and died on site from head trauma.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: AK (8), FL (5), NC (3), OH (2), TX (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| COVENANT ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $43,346 |
| CHELTENHAM CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC. | SAINT CHARLES, MO | $30,000 |
| WALSWORTH PUBLISHING COMPANY | MARCELINE, MO | $16,550 |
| ION SOLAR LLC | XENIA, OH | $14,000 |
| 157653 - JASPER ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $13,017 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.20(f), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.20(f).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.20(f)(2) Training 15 citations
- 1926.20(f)(1) Personal protective equipment 12 citations
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
Does the PPE duty apply to each worker?
Yes. Each standard requiring PPE imposes a separate compliance duty for each covered employee.
Does training count separately for each worker?
Yes. The employer must train each affected employee, and each failure to train an employee may be considered a separate violation.
Does this include respirators?
Yes. It includes respirators and other types of PPE.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.20 (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.