10/29/2020 - OSHA standards applicable to medical and safety uses of pure nitrogen gas

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Thank you for your email to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). You have requested OSHA, among other federal agencies, evaluate the use of your products that deliver pure nitrogen gas clouds for a variety of applications, such as fire suppression.

Your email expressed that some medical and safety uses of pure nitrogen are under research by your company. You also assert that because OSHA and other federal agencies have classified nitrogen gas as a simple asphyxiant, your marketing and research opportunities have been limited.

Please note OSHA does not register, certify, approve, or otherwise endorse commercial products. However, the agency can clarify the application of health and safety standards to particular facts, as summarized below.

As you know, nitrogen has an inherent hazard of being a simple asphyxiant, and if not used properly in certain workplace applications, workers may be injured or killed. In accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA has a mandate to regulate hazards in the workplace. While OSHA has no specific standard for nitrogen, we have a number of standards that govern its use in the workplace, including the duty to inform employees using nitrogen of hazards and safe use. For your information, below is a list of OSHA standards and guidance related to protecting workers from the known hazards of nitrogen.

Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and health. I hope you find this information helpful. OSHA 's requirements are set by statute, standards, and regulations. Letters of interpretation do not create new or additional requirements but rather explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances. This letter constitutes OSHA 's interpretation of the requirements discussed. From time to time, letters are affected when the agency updates a standard, a legal decision impacts a standard, or changes in technology affect the interpretation. To assure that you are using the correct information and guidance, please consult OSHA 's website at https://www.osha.gov. If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-1890.

Title: 10/29/2020 - OSHA standards applicable to medical and safety uses of pure nitrogen gas
Record Type: Interpretation	Standard Number: 1910.101, 1910.1200, 1910.1450

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