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Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)The Occupational Safety Health Administration's (OSHA's) mission is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. OSHA receives its authority to fulfill this mission through the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 651, et seq. OSHA standards are contained in 29 CFR Part 1910 for General Industry, in Part 1926 for Construction Industry, and in Parts 1915, 1917, and 1918 for Maritime Industry. In the absence of specific OSHA standards, employers are obligated under Section 5(a)(1) - "the General Duty Clause" of the OSH Act to protect employees from serious recognized hazards. NOTE: OSHA standards apply to private sector employers, and to agencies of the United States Government. OSHA standards do not apply to particular working conditions for which other federal agencies have issued worker safety or health regulations. States and their political subdivisions are required to comply with OSHA standards only in the 26 states and territories that administer OSHA-approved state plans. This webpage is limited to providing guidance on OSHA standards which may be applicable to, or might be considered useful sources for information pertaining to, hazards related to workplace use of hydrogen. The worksites noted on this webpage may contain additional occupational hazards unrelated to hydrogen which may be covered by other OSHA standards. The omission of such standards from this webpage in no way limits their applicability. The following standards, as noted above, may be applicable to, or might be considered useful sources for information pertaining to, hazards related to workplace use of hydrogen: 29 CFR §1910.38, Emergency action plans, provides for the content of an emergency action plan when an emergency action plan is required by another standard. 29 CFR §1910.101, Compressed gases (general requirements) contains requirements for compressed gases in containers including cylinders, portable tanks, rail tankcars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks. The inspection requirements of compressed gas cylinders are contained under 1910.101(a), the in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tankcars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks under paragraph (b), and the safety relief device requirements for compressed gas containers in paragraph 1910.101(c). 29 CFR §1910.103, Hydrogen, contains requirements for hydrogen systems. Paragraph (b) of this section applies to gaseous hydrogen systems on consumer premises where the hydrogen supply originates outside the consumer premises and is delivered by mobile equipment. It does not apply to gaseous hydrogen systems having a total hydrogen content of less than 400 cubic feet, nor to hydrogen manufacturing plants or other establishments operated by the hydrogen supplier or his agent for the purpose of storing hydrogen and refilling portable containers, trailers, mobile supply trucks, or tank cars. Paragraph (c) under §1910.103 applies to liquefied hydrogen systems on consumer premises. The standard excludes liquefied hydrogen portable containers of less than 150 liters (39.63 gallons) capacity and liquefied hydrogen manufacturing plants or other establishments operated by the hydrogen supplier or his agent for the sole purpose of storing liquefied hydrogen and refilling portable containers, trailers, mobile supply trucks, or tank cars. 29 CFR §1910.119, Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, covers processes containing a threshold quantity of a highly hazardous chemical. A process is defined as ".any activity involving a highly hazardous chemical including any use, storage, manufacturing, handling or on-site movement of such chemicals, or combination of these activities." The standard applies to flammable liquids and gases at a threshold quantity of 10,000 pounds or more, specified quantities of chemicals listed in Appendix A of the standard, and to the manufacture of explosives. Because hydrogen would be covered as a flammable gas, the PSM standard would apply to processes containing hydrogen in quantities of 10,000 pounds or more, with some exceptions. 29 CFR §1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response, contains requirements for emergency response operations. When there is more than an incidental release of Hydrogen, or a substantial threat of a release, then emergency response operations must comply with §1910.120(q)., "Emergency response to hazardous substance releases." 29 CFR §1910.132(a), Personal protective equipment, requires that protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever necessary . 29 CFR §1910.156 , Fire brigades contains requirements for the organization, training, and personal protective equipment of fire brigades whenever they are established by an employer. The requirements under 1910.156 apply to fire brigades, industrial fire departments and private or contractual type fire departments. Personal protective equipment requirements contained in this section apply only to members of fire brigades performing interior structural fire fighting. 29 CFR §1910.1200, Hazard communication requires that hazards associated with hydrogen must be conveyed to employees. In addition, the standard requires that the information be transmitted through a comprehensive hazard communication program, including, but not limited to, container labeling, material safety data sheets, and employee training on the hazards associated with handling hydrogen. |
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