Understanding the Code of Federal Regulations – Quick Tips

Introduction

Under Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in the 1930s, Congress began delegating more responsibility to federal agencies to create legislation. At the time, there was no centralized system to communicate up-to-date legislation from the executive department or the agencies of the federal government to the public. The Federal Register Act (1935) and the Administrative Procedure Act (1946) paved the way for the Federal Register System to issue and publish government laws.

Federal Register System

The Federal Register System’s two major publications are the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Federal Register is published and issued every federal working day. Legislation is published first as a proposed rule followed by a comment period. The comment period is a time the public can give their input on the proposed rule. Once the rule is finalized, it becomes a legal document a minimum of 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. These final rules are then codified and published annually in the CFR. The Federal Register and the CFR must be used together to determine an up-to-date stipulation of a ruling.

Code of Federal Registrations (CFR) Structure

Sometimes it requires a little research to obtain information from the CFRs. A typical OSHA reference may include the title, part, section, paragraph and sub-paragraph numbers. For example, 29 CFR 1910.1450(a)(2)(i), reads as Title 29, CFR, Part 1910, Section 1450, Paragraph (a), Subparagraph (2) (i). To help you better understand the organization of the CFRs, the following is an excerpt from 29 CFR 1910.1450:

Code of Federal Registrations Title Numbers and Descriptions

Each regulation falls under one of these 50 title numbers and subject areas:

  1. General Provisions
  2. Grants and Agreements
  3. The President
  4. Accounts
  5. Administrative Personnel
  6. Homeland Security
  7. Agriculture
  8. Aliens and Nationality
  9. Animals and Animal Products
  10. Energy
  11. Federal Elections
  12. Banks and Banking
  13. Business Credit and Assistance
  14. Aeronautics and Space
  15. Commerce and Foreign Trade
  16. Commercial Practices
  17. Commodity and Securities Exchanges
  18. Conservation of Power and Water Resources
  19. Customs Duties
  20. Employees’ Benefits
  21. Food and Drugs
  22. Foreign Relations
  23. Highways
  24. Housing and Urban Development
  25. Indians
  26. Internal Revenue
  27. Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms
  28. Judicial Administration
  29. Labor—OSHA
  30. Mineral Resources
  31. Money and Finance: Treasury
  32. National Defense
  33. Navigation and Navigable Waters
  34. Education
  35. (Reserved)
  36. Parks, Forests, and Public Property
  37. Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights
  38. Pensions, Bonuses and Veterans’ Relief
  39. Postal Service
  40. Protection of Environment—EPA
  41. Public Contracts and Property Management
  42. Public Health
  43. Public Lands: Interior
  44. Emergency Management and Assistance
  45. Public Welfare
  46. Shipping
  47. Telecommunication
  48. Federal Acquisition Regulations System
  49. Transportation—DOT
  50. Wildlife and Fisheries

For quick reference, the color of the book covers changes annually. The revision date indicates when the revision is begun, and the CFR may not be available to the public for approximately six months after the revision date. The titles are revised and published annually by the following schedule:

Index and Finding Aids

When researching by topic, the Index and Finding Aids found in the back of each CFR (and also published annually as a separate document) will be helpful. If you are trying to find up-to-date legislation or amendments on a regulation, you may need to consult the List of CFR Sections Affected (LSA), which is issued monthly by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Can I publish material that includes CFR references?

A: Yes. The CFRs are public domain and no restrictions are placed on publication of the contents.

Q: Why are the reference numbers confusing?

A: The CFR format uses a period to separate the part number from the section number (instead of a decimal system), so “29 CFR 1910.2” would precede “29 CFR 1910.15.” Also, the many paragraph structural levels mix numerals and letters and include the use of lower case “a” proceeding capital “A” which is an unusual sequence.

Q: What are some examples of employees requiring hazmat training?

A: Employees who:

  • Determine if a material is a hazardous material
  • Design, produce and/or sell packaging for hazardous materials
  • Determine proper packaging for hazardous materials
  • Put hazardous materials into packaging
  • Mark and/or label hazardous materials packages
  • Fill out shipping papers for hazardous materials
  • Load or unload hazardous materials
  • Operate vehicles that transport hazardous materials

Sources

Superintendent of Documents
Mail OP: SSOP
Washington, DC 20402-9328

Government Printing Office: www.gpoaccess.gov

The Federal Register: What Is It and How To Use It, Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, June 1995.

Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR 1910–end, 1993.

OSHA

GPO Access: Code of Federal Regulations

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

 

The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.

Source: Grainger Know How – https://www.grainger.com/know-how