# 29 CFR § 1903.1: Purpose and scope

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.1

## Section

- **Citation:** 29 CFR § 1903.1
- **Heading:** Purpose and scope
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 29—Labor > Subtitle B—Regulations Relating to Labor > CHAPTER XVII—OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR > PART 1903—INSPECTIONS, CITATIONS AND PROPOSED PENALTIES

## Text

The Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 1590 et seq., 29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) requires, in part, that every employer covered under the Act furnish to his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees. The Act also requires that employers comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under the Act, and that employees comply with standards, rules, regulations and orders issued under the Act which are applicable to their own actions and conduct. The Act authorizes the Department of Labor to conduct inspections, and to issue citations and proposed penalties for alleged violations. The Act, under section 20(b), also authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to conduct inspections and to question employers and employees in connection with research and other related activities. The Act contains provisions for adjudication of violations, periods prescribed for the abatement of violations, and proposed penalties by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, if contested by an employer or by an employee or authorized representative of employees, and for judicial review. The purpose of this part 1903 is to prescribe rules and to set forth general policies for enforcement of the inspection, citation, and proposed penalty provisions of the Act. In situations where this part 1903 sets forth general enforcement policies rather than substantive or procedural rules, such policies may be modified in specific circumstances where the Secretary or his designee determines that an alternative course of action would better serve the objectives of the Act.

## Nearby sections

- [29 CFR § 1903.1 § 1903.1 Purpose and scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.1.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.3 § 1903.3 Authority for inspection.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.3.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.5 § 1903.5 Entry not a waiver.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.5.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.6 § 1903.6 Advance notice of inspections.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.6.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.8 § 1903.8 Representatives of employers and employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.8.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.9 § 1903.9 Trade secrets.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.9.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.10 § 1903.10 Consultation with employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.10.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.11 § 1903.11 Complaints by employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.11.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.14a § 1903.14a Petitions for modification of abatement date.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.14a.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.17 § 1903.17 Employer and employee contests before the Review Commission.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.17.md)
- [29 CFR § 1903.19 § 1903.19 Abatement verification.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.19.md)
- [29 CFR § 1908.1 § 1908.1 Purpose and scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1908.1.md)
- [29 CFR § 1908.2 § 1908.2 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1908.2.md)
- [29 CFR § 1908.5 § 1908.5 Requests and scheduling for onsite consultation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1908.5.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-29-1903.1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
