Department of Consumer and Business Services
Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division - Chapter 437
Division 2
GENERAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RULES
437-002-0378
Oregon Rules for Pipe Labeling
(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) Definitions.
(a) Hazardous substances: any substance which is a physical or health hazard.
(b) 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.
(c) Physical hazard: A chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects: explosive; flammable (gases, liquids, or solids); aerosols; chemical under pressure; oxidizer (gases, liquids, or solids); self-reactive; pyrophoric (liquid or solid); self-heating; organic peroxide; corrosive to metal; gas under pressure; in contact with water emits flammable gas; or desensitized explosive. The criteria for determining whether a chemical is classified as a physical hazard are detailed in Appendix B to 1910.1200.
(d) Piping system: includes pipes, single or multiple, of any kind and, in addition, valves and pipe coverings.
(e) Pipes: conduits for the transport of gases, liquids, semi-liquids or fine particulate dusts.
(3) Purpose. The purpose of this division is to prescribe minimum labeling 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) Labeling.
(a) Pipes and piping systems which contain hazardous substances or transport substances in a hazardous state shall be labeled in accordance with subsections (A), (B), (C) and (D) or other- wise identified in accordance with subsection (c) of this rule:
(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.
(B) Contents shall be identified by labeling with sufficient detail to identify the hazard.
(C) Label wording shall be brief, informative and simple.
(D) Labeling shall be accomplished by stenciling, the use of tape, adhesives, markers or approved alternative means.
(b) Pipes or piping systems which use asbestos as a pipe insulation material shall be labeled in accordance with the following language, or otherwise identified in accordance with subsection (c) below. 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
(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) Location of Labeling.
(a) Labeling 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.
(b) Labeling shall be applied, at a minimum, at the beginning and end of continuous pipe runs.
(c) For asbestos insulation, labeling shall be at a minimum, on unobstructed continuous pipe runs, every 75 feet. [Insert Illustration 1.]
(6) Visibility.
(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.
(b) Where pipes are inaccessible and/or at a distance which precludes clear identification of the letters on labeling, alternatives to the labeling which meet all other requirements of this rule may be used (i.e., schematics posted on walls in work areas). Appendix A for Pipe Labeling (Non-Mandatory).
Note: Former division 153, Pipe Labeling, 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