1. (1) Scope and Application. This division shall apply to all piping systems containing hazardous substances or that use asbestos as a pipe insulation material in buildings, structures and workplaces. This division does not apply to buried piping.

2. (2) Definitions.

   Hazardous substances: any substance which is a physical or health hazard.

   Health Hazard: A chemical which is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: acute toxicity (any route of exposure); skin corrosion or irritation; serious eye damage or eye irritation; respiratory or skin sensitization; germ cell mutagenicity; carcinogenicity; reproductive toxicity; specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure); or aspiration hazard. The criteria for determining whether a chemical is classified as a health hazard are detailed in Appendix A to 1910.1200 - Health Hazard Criteria.

   Physical Hazard: A chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: explosive; flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids); oxidizer (liquid, solid or gas); self-reactive; pyrophoric (liquid or solid); self-heating; organic peroxide; corrosive to metal; gas under pressure; or in contact with water emits flammable gas. See Appendix B to 1910.1200 – Physical Hazard Criteria.

   Piping system: includes pipes, single or multiple, of any kind and, in addition, valves and pipe coverings.

   Pipes: conduits for the transport of gases, liquids, semiliquids or fine particulate dusts.

3. (3) Purpose. The purpose of this division is to prescribe minimum labelling requirements for all piping systems which contain hazardous substances, transport substances in a hazardous state, or which use asbestos as a pipe insulation material.

4. (4) Labelling.

   1. (a) Pipes and piping systems which contain hazardous substances or transport substances in a hazardous state shall be labelled in accordance with subsections (A), (B), (C) and (D) or other- wise identified in accordance with subsection (c) of this rule:

      1. (A) Positive identification of the hazardous contents of a piping system shall be by lettered labels. The label shall give the name of the contents in full or abbreviated form.
      2. (B) Contents shall be identified by labelling with sufficient detail to identify the hazard.
      3. (C) Label wording shall be brief, informative and simple.
      4. (D) Labelling shall be accomplished by stencilling, the use of tape, adhesives, markers or approved alternative means.

   2. (b) Pipes or piping systems which use asbestos as a pipe insulation material shall be labelled in accordance with subsection (b)(A), or otherwise identified in accordance with subsection (c) below:

      1. (A) The label for pipe insulation containing asbestos shall include the following:

         DANGER

         CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS

         MAY CAUSE CANCER

         CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS

         DO NOT BREATHE DUST

         AVOID CREATING DUST

   3. (c) The employer may use signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other such written materials in lieu of affixing labels to individual pipes, as long as the alternative method identifies the pipe(s) to which it is applicable and conveys the information required by this rule. The written materials shall be readily accessible to the employees in their work areas during each shift. (OAR 437, Division 2/Z, Hazard Communication, 1910.1200.)

5. (5) Location of Labelling.

   1. (a) Labelling shall be applied where confusion may occur, such as close to valves or flanges and adjacent to changes in direction, branches and where pipes pass through walls, floors or ceilings.
   2. (b) Labelling shall be applied, at a minimum, at the beginning and end of continuous pipe runs.
   3. (c) For asbestos insulation, labelling shall be at a minimum, on unobstructed continuous pipe runs, every 75 feet. Illustration.

6. (6) Visibility.

   1. (a) Where pipes are located above or below the normal line of vision, the lettering shall be placed below or above the horizontal centerline of the pipe.

   2. (b) Where pipes are inaccessible and/or at a distance which precludes clear identification of the letters on labelling, alternatives to the labelling which meet all other requirements of this rule may be used (i.e., schematics posted on walls in work areas). Appendix.

      NOTE: Former division 153, Pipe Labelling, has been redesignated, renumbered, and amended as Oregon-initiated Rule 437-002-0378, to continue coverage not provided in federal standards.

      [ED. NOTE: To view attachments referenced in rule text, click here for PDF copy.]

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 654.025(2) & 656.726(4)

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 654.001 - 654.295

History

OSHA 1-2026, amend filed 05/29/2026, effective 07/01/2026
OSHA 5-2012, f. & cert. ef. 9-25-12
OSHA 12-1993, f. 6-20-93, cert. ef. 11-1-93, Renumbered from 437-153-004-0025
WCD 8-1986, f. 9-4-86, cert. ef. 10-1-87