This section highlights OSHA standards and other federal standards related to the airline industry.

OSHA Standards

Frequently Cited Standards

OSHA maintains a listing of the most frequently cited standards for specified 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Please refer to OSHA's Frequently Cited OSHA Standards page for additional information. For Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation use NAICS code 481111 in the NAICS search box.

Applicable Standards to Flight Attendants and Cabin Crewmembers

In 2014, OSHA coordinated a joint policy with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), for improving workplace safety for aircraft cabin crewmembers. Under a memorandum of understanding, OSHA now enforces certain standards for cabin crewmembers (e.g., flight attendants), but not flight deck crews, and only while they are onboard aircraft in operation. While the FAA's aviation safety regulations take precedence, OSHA enforces the following standards:

• 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]
• 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens [related topic page]
• 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure [related topic page]

Other OSHA requirements that have always applied to all employees, including airline cabin crew, include OSHA's regulations on recordkeeping, access to employee exposure and medical records, and the anti-discrimination requirements under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act. The anti-discrimination provisions of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century ("AIR 21"), 49 U.S.C. § 42121, also apply to all air carrier employees. (See OSHA Memorandum, April 1, 2014)

• 1910.1020, Access to employee exposure and medical records
• 1904, Recordkeeping [related topic page]
• Section 11(c) of the OSH Act
• AIR 21