Ezel / Labor Guidance / US
Back to Federal guidance

Passenger seat belts on employee transport buses

Summary A construction employer asked whether buses used to move workers within a plant needed seat belts at every passenger seat. OSHA said its cited motor-vehicle rule did not require passenger belts on those buses because the referenced transportation rule did not require them on school buses.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1994-01-19
Date issued
January 19, 1994
Status
Active
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Motor Vehicles Construction
Source
View the official document

Apply this to your situation

This page explains the general guidance. Ask about your specific situation and see what current federal labor law says, with citations.

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 19, 1994

Mr. Carl D. Richardson
Director, Safety and Health
H.B. Zachry Company
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Richardson:

This is in response to your October 25 letter requesting an interpretation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation requiring seat belts in motor vehicles. I apologize for the delay in our response.

Please be advised that 29 CFR 1926.601(b)(9) does not require buses used to transport employees to be equipped with passenger seat belts. The standard refers to a Department of Transportation regulation which does not require passenger seat belts on school buses.

If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me or Mr. Dale Cavanaugh of my staff at (202) 219-8136.

Sincerely,
Roy F. Gurnham, P.E., J.D.
Director
Officer of Construction and Maritime
Compliance Assistance

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]

Related guidance

Permanently labeled locks for electrical lockout Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Helmet selection for lateral head-impact hazards Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Asbestos precautions when restoring drywall after flood damage Opinion Letter · May 7, 2026 Enforcement policy for recording and reporting COVID-19 cases Guidance · March 31, 2026

What does federal law require in your situation?

Ezel checks current federal labor law against your facts and answers with citations.

Opens in Ezel Pro.

  • Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
  • Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
  • Chat, drafting and research in one workspace