Here’s another one of our OSHA Basics series of articles.
In this one, we’re going to explain what a “vertical” standard is and what a “horizontal” standard is.
If that catches your attention or piques your curiosity, read on!
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Vertical and Horizontal Standards
Most OSHA standards are horizontal standards. That means they apply to all employers in any industry.
Some OSHA standards, however, are vertical standards. This means they apply to just a specific industry.
Horizontal Standards
Horizontal standards are the OSHA standards that apply to most workplaces.
Examples of horizontal standards include:
Vertical Standards
Vertical standards apply to specific industries or to particular operations, practices, conditions, processes, means, methods, equipment, or installations.
Examples of OSHA vertical standards include:
- OSHA’s 1926 Construction Standards
- OSHA’s 1915 Shipyard Standards
- The OSHA 1910 Subpart R Special Industries Regulations for pulp, paper, and paperboard mills; for textiles; for sawmills; and for other industries
When OSHA has a vertical standard that applies to a particular industry (or employer in that industry), then that standard takes precedence over any horizontal standard.
Conclusion: OSHA’s Vertical and Horizontal Standards
If you found this “OSHA Basics” article on OSHA’s vertical and horizontal standards helpful, you may also want to check out some of the following articles:
- OSHA Basics: Letters of Interpretation
- OSHA Basics: OSHA Directives
- OSHA Basics: 29 CFR, Parts, Subparts, Sections, and the Paragraph Numbering System
- OSHA Basics: The OSHA Field Operations Manual
- OSHA Basics: Special Industry Regulations (Subpart R)
- OSHA Basics: Incorporation by Reference (IBR)
- OSHA Basics: The General Duty Clause-5.(a)(1)
- OSHA Basics: Part 1910 and Part 1926
- OSHA Basics: What Is a Competent Person?
- OSHA Basics: The OSHA Poster
- This three-article series on OSHA General Industry Compliance Requirements
- This three-article series on OSHA Inspections
- This four-article series on OSHA Recordkeeping
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