OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1926.57 41 times since 2015, against 34 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $132,122 at their current amounts.
Citations per year
The parts of the rule cited most
1926.57(a) · 11 citations
(a) General. Whenever hazardous substances such as dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases exist or are produced in the course of construction work, their concentrations shall not exceed the limits specified in § 1926.55(a). When ventilation is used as an engineering control method, the system shall be installed and operated according to the requirements of this section.
1926.57(c) · 7 citations
(c) Design and operation. Exhaust fans, jets, ducts, hoods, separators, and all necessary appurtenances, including refuse receptacles, shall be so designed, constructed, maintained and operated as to ensure the required protection by maintaining a volume and velocity of exhaust air sufficient to gather dusts, fumes, vapors, or gases from said equipment or process, and to convey them to suitable points of safe disposal, thereby preventing their dispersion in harmful quantities into the atmosphere where employees work.
1926.57(f)(5)(i) · 3 citations
(5) Personal protective equipment. (i) Employers must use only respirators approved by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84 for protecting employees from dusts produced during abrasive-blasting operations.
1926.57(f)(5)(ii) · 3 citations
(ii) Abrasive-blasting respirators shall be worn by all abrasive-blasting operators:
1926.57(b) · 2 citations
(b) Local exhaust ventilation. Local exhaust ventilation when used as described in (a) shall be designed to prevent dispersion into the air of dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, and gases in concentrations causing harmful exposure. Such exhaust systems shall be so designed that dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases are not drawn through the work area of employees.
1926.57(f)(5)(v) · 2 citations
(v) Operators shall be equipped with heavy canvas or leather gloves and aprons or equivalent protection to protect them from the impact of abrasives. Safety shoes shall be worn to protect against foot injury where heavy pieces of work are handled.
1926.57(e) · 1 citations
(e) Disposal of exhaust materials. The air outlet from every dust separator, and the dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases collected by an exhaust or ventilating system shall discharge to the outside atmosphere. Collecting systems which return air to work area may be used if concentrations which accumulate in the work area air do not result in harmful exposure to employees. Dust and refuse discharged from an exhaust system shall be disposed of in such a manner that it will not result in harmful exposure to employees.
1926.57(f)(2)(i) · 1 citations
(2) Dust hazards from abrasive blasting. (i) Abrasives and the surface coatings on the materials blasted are shattered and pulverized during blasting operations and the dust formed will contain particles of respirable size. The composition and toxicity of the dust from these sources shall be considered in making an evaluation of the potential health hazards.
Industries cited most
- Construction 35
- Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 4
- Utilities 1
- Manufacturing 1
States cited most
Recently cited employers
- Michigan Joint Sealing, Inc. Oak Park, MI · Sep 3, 2026
- Wright & Morrissey Inc South Burlington, VT · Aug 12, 2026
- Calhoun Construction Services Inc Louisville, KY · Jun 2, 2026
- Lonsdale Concrete Construction, Inc. Cumberland, RI · Jan 13, 2026
- S. J. Louis Construction, Inc. Charlotte, NC · Dec 9, 2025