OSHA Basics: Vertical and Horizontal Standards

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!

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:

• PPE (1910 Subpart I)
• Fire Protection (1910 Subpart L)
• Hazard Communication (1910 1200)

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’s Consultation Services
• OSHA Basics: OSHA Directives
• OSHA Basics: OSHA Variances
• OSHA Basics: OSHA’s Vertical and Horizontal Standards
• OSHA Basics: OSHA’s Parts 1910 and 1926
• OSHA Basics: How OSHA Standards are Named and Numbered
• OSHA Basics: Incorporation by Reference (IBR)
• OSHA Basics: The OSHA Field Operations Manual
• OSHA Basics: OSHA’s Small Business Handbook
• OSHA Basics: The General Duty Clause-5.(a)(1)
• OSHA Basics: OSHA’s Special Industry Standards in Subpart R
• OSHA Basics: The OSHA Poster
• OSHA Basics: The Competent Person Role
• OSHA Basics: OSHA Penalties
• OSHA Basics: OSHA’s Yearly Top Ten Lists (Recent Years Overview)
• This three-article series on OSHA General Industry Compliance Requirements
• This three-article series on OSHA Inspections