29 USC § 658 - Citations

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t29/s658"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "29 USC § 658 - Citations"
title_number: 29
title_name: "LABOR"
section_number: "658"
section_name: "Citations"
chapter_number: 15
chapter_name: "OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 91–596, § 9, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1601.)"
---


# § 658. Citations

**(a)** **Authority to issue; grounds; contents; notice in lieu of citation for de minimis violations** section 654 of this titlesection 655 of this title

If, upon inspection or investigation, the Secretary or his authorized representative believes that an employer has violated a requirement of , of any standard, rule or order promulgated pursuant to , or of any regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter, he shall with reasonable promptness issue a citation to the employer. Each citation shall be in writing and shall describe with particularity the nature of the violation, including a reference to the provision of the chapter, standard, rule, regulation, or order alleged to have been violated. In addition, the citation shall fix a reasonable time for the abatement of the violation. The Secretary may prescribe procedures for the issuance of a notice in lieu of a citation with respect to de minimis violations which have no direct or immediate relationship to safety or health.

**(b)** **Posting** Each citation issued under this section, or a copy or copies thereof, shall be prominently posted, as prescribed in regulations issued by the Secretary, at or near each place a violation referred to in the citation occurred.

**(c)** **Time for issuance** No citation may be issued under this section after the expiration of six months following the occurrence of any violation.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 91–596, § 9, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1601.)