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Abrasive-blasting breathing-air monitoring rule

Summary An OSHA region asked which rule governed carbon monoxide monitoring for breathing air in abrasive blasting. OSHA said the more specific abrasive-blasting provision, section 1910.94(a)(6), took precedence over the general respiratory protection provision cited in the memorandum.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1980-01-24-0
Date issued
January 24, 1980
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Respiratory Protection Abrasive Blasting
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

January 24, 1980

MEMORANDUM FOR: DAVID H. RHONE
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR REGION II

THRU: ROGER CLARK, DIRECTOR
Field Coordination

FROM: GROVER C. WRENN
Director, Federal Compliance and State Programs

SUBJECT: Carbon Monoxide Alarm/Monitoring at Abrasive Blasting Operations - [1910.134(i)(5-7)] vs. 1910.94(a)(6)

In response to your request for interpretation of which of the above standards to use for abrasive blasting, our position is that the more specific standard applies i.e., 1910.94(a)(6) takes precedence over [1910.134(i)(5-7)] and should be the only one used.

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