1926.55 Construction Air Contaminants: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Construction workers may not be exposed to airborne gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, or mists above the permissible exposure limits listed in Tables 1 and 2 of the section. To meet these limits, employers must use feasible administrative or engineering controls first, and when those are not enough, provide respirators or other protective equipment. It applies to operations like welding, painting, cutting, and demolition.
What the standard requires
- Keep exposures within the limits in Tables 1 and 2
- Implement feasible engineering or administrative controls first
- Provide respirators when controls cannot achieve compliance
- Have a competent industrial hygienist or qualified person approve control methods
Hazards it addresses
- Respiratory illness from dusts and fumes
- Acute poisoning from toxic gases and vapors
- Long-term organ damage from chemical exposure
Cited in construction during welding, coatings work, and enclosed-space operations with poor ventilation.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.55(a)(2) | Exposure to listed air contaminants must not exceed the limits in Tables 1 and 2 of this section. | 10 | 10 | $14,895 |
| 1926.55(a) | Exposure to listed air contaminants must not exceed the limits in Tables 1 and 2 of this section. | 9 | 9 | $3,500 |
| 1926.55(b) | Feasible administrative or engineering controls must be used first, supplemented by PPE when needed. | 6 | 6 | $0 |
| 1926.55(a)(1) | Exposure to listed air contaminants must not exceed the limits in Tables 1 and 2 of this section. | 1 | 1 | $11,585 |
Penalties
Across 26 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $434,358 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $371,056, 15% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 77%; Willful 15%; Other-than-serious 8%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 7 | 7 | $31,500 | $26,180 |
| North Dakota | 2 | 4 | $281,374 | $241,651 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 2 | $16,550 | $13,074 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 2 | $29,790 | $29,790 |
| Colorado | 1 | 2 | $16,550 | $13,000 |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | $11,916 | $11,916 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | $9,268 | $0 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 2 | $14,895 | $14,895 |
| New York | 1 | 1 | $4,965 | $3,000 |
| Texas | 1 | 2 | $16,550 | $16,550 |
By industry
- Construction: 19 inspections
- Retail trade: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRZ Coatings Inc. | Circle Pines, MN | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 6, 2026Contested Aug 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| SBF Construction, Inc. | New Brunswick, NJ | Jul 21, 2026 | 2 | $14,895 | $14,895 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 14, 2026Contested Aug 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Nantucket Electrical Contractors, Inc. | Nantucket, MA | Jun 11, 2026 | 2 | $9,268 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Rieger, Borgen, Benson Electric, Inc. | Bismarck, ND | Jun 5, 2026 | 2 | $132,411 | $92,688 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 3, 2027 | osha.gov |
| Northwest Contracting, Inc. | Bismarck, ND | Jun 5, 2026 | 2 | $148,963 | $148,963 | ContestedAbatement due Jul 10, 2026Contested Jun 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Desrochers Contracting LLC | Lexington, KY | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $2,450 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Americas Floor Source LLC | Lexington, KY | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $4,200 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| GC Painting LLC | Lexington, KY | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| JVD Electric LLC | Lexington, KY | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Calhoun Construction Services Inc. | Lexington, KY | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $5,600 | $5,600 | ContestedAbatement due Jun 22, 2026Contested Jun 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Leap Service Partners LLC | Lexington, KY | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | ContestedAbatement due Jun 8, 2026Contested Jun 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Steadfast Electric LLC | Lexington, KY | Jun 1, 2026 | 1 | $4,900 | $3,430 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 5, 2026 | osha.gov |
| North Texas Contracting, Inc. | Plano, TX | Apr 30, 2026 | 2 | $16,550 | $16,550 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Nicholson Construction Company | Verona, WI | Apr 30, 2026 | 1 | $14,895 | $14,895 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Kimmins Contracting Corp. | Tampa, FL | Mar 13, 2026 | 1 | $11,916 | $11,916 | ContestedAbatement due Apr 8, 2026Contested Apr 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Whiteco LLC | Tomah, WI | Feb 18, 2026 | 1 | $14,895 | $14,895 | Informal settlementAbatement due Mar 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Plaster Master, Inc. | Farmingville, NY | Jan 16, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $3,000 | Final orderAbatement due Feb 11, 2026Contested Apr 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lonsdale Concrete Construction, Inc. | Cumberland, RI | Jan 13, 2026 | 1 | $11,585 | $8,110 | Informal settlementAbatement due Mar 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Amen Concrete LLC | Parker, CO | Dec 16, 2025 | 2 | $16,550 | $13,000 | Formal settlementAbatement due Jan 23, 2026Contested Jan 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Global Plumbing & Home Solutions Contracting LLC | Cranston, RI | Feb 10, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 5, 2025 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (5 shared inspections)
- 1910.134 Respiratory Protection (3 shared inspections)
- 1926.21 Construction Safety Training (3 shared inspections)
- 1926.20 Construction Safety Programs (3 shared inspections)
- 1926.1203 Confined Spaces in Construction (2 shared inspections)
- 1903.19 Abatement Verification (1 shared inspections)
- 1926.1153 Silica in Construction (1 shared inspections)
- 1926.501 Fall Protection (1 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.55 require?
Construction workers may not be exposed to airborne gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, or mists above the permissible exposure limits listed in Tables 1 and 2 of the section. To meet these limits, employers must use feasible administrative or engineering controls first, and when those are not enough, provide respirators or other protective equipment. It applies to operations like welding, painting, cutting, and demolition.
How often was 1926.55 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.55 (Construction Air Contaminants) appeared in 20 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 26 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.55 is cited most?
1926.55(a)(2) was the most-cited paragraph, with 10 items: Exposure to listed air contaminants must not exceed the limits in Tables 1 and 2 of this section.
Which states cite 1926.55 most often?
The most citations under 1926.55 in this period were issued in Kentucky, North Dakota, Rhode Island.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.55 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $4,965; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $3,500. Totals: $434,358 proposed, $371,056 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.55 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 42% 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.