Occupational Safety and Health Act Variance Regulations (29 CFR 1905.10, 1905.11 and 1905.12)

Under several provisions of the OSH Act, employers may apply for four different types of variances from the requirements of OSHA standards. Employers submit variance applications voluntarily to OSHA, and the applications specify alternative means of complying with the requirements of OSHA standards. The four types of variances are: temporary variances (Section 6(b)(6)(A) of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); experimental variances (Section 6(b)(6)(C) of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); permanent variances (Section 6(d) of the Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); and national-defense variances (Section 16 of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 665). OSHA codified these statutory provisions under 29 CFR part 1905 ("Rules of Practice for Variances, Limitations, Variations, Tolerances, and Exemptions under the William-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970").

The latest form for Occupational Safety and Health Act Variance Regulations (29 CFR 1905.10, 1905.11 and 1905.12) expires 2022-02-28 and can be found here.