1910.1048 Formaldehyde: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Limits employee exposure to formaldehyde gas, solutions, and materials that release it. The permissible exposure limit is 0.75 parts per million as an 8-hour average and 2 ppm as a 15-minute short-term limit, with an action level of 0.5 ppm. Employers must monitor exposures, establish regulated areas, apply engineering and work practice controls, provide respirators and protective equipment, supply eyewash and quick-drench showers where splashes are possible, provide medical surveillance, and train employees.
What the standard requires
- Monitor formaldehyde exposures
- Use engineering and work practice controls to reduce exposure
- Provide eye wash and drench facilities where splashing may occur
- Provide medical surveillance for exposed employees
- Train employees at or above 0.1 ppm on formaldehyde hazards
Hazards it addresses
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
- Skin sensitization and dermatitis
- Cancer
Cited at funeral homes, pathology and anatomy laboratories, wood product manufacturing, and textile finishing.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.1048(d)(1)(i) | Exposure monitoring | 13 | 13 | $0 |
| 1910.1048(n)(1) | Employee information and training | 6 | 6 | $300 |
| 1910.1048(d)(2) | Exposure monitoring | 4 | 4 | $5,368 |
| 1910.1048(h)(1)(i) | 4 | 4 | $2,650 | |
| 1910.1048(d)(2)(ii) | Exposure monitoring | 3 | 3 | $0 |
| 1910.1048(c)(2) | 1 | 1 | $0 | |
| 1910.1048(f)(1) | Methods of compliance | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| 1910.1048(g)(1)(iv) | 1 | 1 | $9,268 | |
| 1910.1048(g)(2)(ii) | 1 | 1 | $16,550 | |
| 1910.1048(g)(3)(i)(B) | 1 | 1 | $0 | |
| 1910.1048(k) | 1 | 1 | $0 | |
| 1910.1048(l)(1)(i) | 1 | 1 | $11,400 | |
| 1910.1048(m)(1)(i) | 1 | 1 | $7,235 | |
| 1910.1048(m)(2)(i) | 1 | 1 | $0 | |
| 1910.1048(n)(2) | Employee information and training | 1 | 1 | $4,965 |
Penalties
Across 42 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $123,493 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $86,455, 30% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 60%; Other-than-serious 40%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 5 | 10 | $6,700 | $3,350 |
| Tennessee | 3 | 3 | $1,300 | $1,300 |
| Virginia | 3 | 6 | $35,400 | $26,490 |
| Oregon | 2 | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 2 | $2,484 | $1,739 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 6 | $28,373 | $20,098 |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 3 | $6,300 | $3,780 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 3 | $18,536 | $9,268 |
| New York | 1 | 2 | $9,930 | $5,960 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 3 | $14,470 | $14,470 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 8 inspections
- Other services: 5 inspections
- Health care & social assistance: 4 inspections
- Educational services: 3 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 1 inspections
- Construction: 1 inspections
- Professional & technical services: 1 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakefield Professional Group of Oregon PC | Portland, OR | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| East Longmeadow Public Schools | East Longmeadow, MA | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| 1220 Exhibits, Inc. | Nashville, TN | Jul 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Condair Operations, LLC | Richmond, VA | Jul 14, 2026 | 3 | $34,200 | $25,650 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Genia's Keratin Spa LLC | Weston, FL | Jul 9, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine | Kalamazoo, MI | Jun 17, 2026 | 4 | $6,700 | $3,350 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Norris Funeral Services, Inc. & Crematory - Martinsville Chapel | Martinsville, VA | Jun 15, 2026 | 2 | $1,200 | $840 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Filter-Fab Corporation | Cookeville, TN | Jun 8, 2026 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| DE Pere Cabinet, Inc. | De Pere, WI | Jun 5, 2026 | 5 | $16,550 | $8,275 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Columbia, TN | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $300 | $300 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Emtech Laboratories, Inc. | Roanoke, VA | May 4, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due May 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Custom Laser, Inc. | Lockport, NY | Apr 2, 2026 | 2 | $9,930 | $5,960 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Concordia University St Paul | Saint Paul, MN | Mar 27, 2026 | 3 | $6,300 | $3,780 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Forefront Management, LLC | Pleasant Prairie, WI | Mar 13, 2026 | 1 | $11,823 | $11,823 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tri-County Community Action Agency | North Providence, RI | Mar 13, 2026 | 1 | $1,129 | $790 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Prospect Chartercare Sjhsri, LLC | North Providence, RI | Mar 11, 2026 | 1 | $1,355 | $948 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Noble Biomaterials, Inc. | Scranton, PA | Feb 10, 2026 | 3 | $14,470 | $14,470 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Eci Services of New Hampshire, Inc. | Manchester, NH | Jan 28, 2026 | 3 | $18,536 | $9,268 | Informal settlementAbatement due Feb 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Masters Millwork LLC dba Masters Millwork | Madison Heights, MI | Oct 28, 2025 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Dec 2, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Clean Tech Inc. | Dundee, MI | Oct 24, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Nov 28, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Providence Health & Services - Oregon | Canby, OR | Oct 20, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Nov 14, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Maclean-Fogg Master East | Plymouth, MI | Oct 17, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Formal settlementAbatement due Nov 20, 2025Contested Dec 17, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Lee-Ellena Funeral Home | Macomb, MI | Oct 15, 2025 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Nov 18, 2025 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (12 shared inspections)
- 1910.134 Respiratory Protection (8 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (4 shared inspections)
- 1910.151 First Aid (3 shared inspections)
- 1904.29 OSHA 300 and 301 Forms (1 shared inspections)
- 1910.38 Emergency Action Plans (1 shared inspections)
- 1904.40 Producing Injury Records (1 shared inspections)
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (1 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.1048 require?
Limits employee exposure to formaldehyde gas, solutions, and materials that release it. The permissible exposure limit is 0.75 parts per million as an 8-hour average and 2 ppm as a 15-minute short-term limit, with an action level of 0.5 ppm. Employers must monitor exposures, establish regulated areas, apply engineering and work practice controls, provide respirators and protective equipment, supply eyewash and quick-drench showers where splashes are possible, provide medical surveillance, and train employees.
How often was 1910.1048 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.1048 (Formaldehyde) appeared in 23 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 42 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.1048 is cited most?
1910.1048(d)(1)(i) was the most-cited paragraph, with 13 items: Exposure monitoring
Which states cite 1910.1048 most often?
The most citations under 1910.1048 in this period were issued in Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.1048 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $450; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $360. Totals: $123,493 proposed, $86,455 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.1048 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 2% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.