Enforcement Memos | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Enforcement Memos

Enforcement memos may provide agency policies and/or supplementary enforcement guidance, and some memos may include an interpretation of an OSHA standard. These memos are collected by topic on this webpage. Memos that provide new or revised agency policies are signed by the Assistant Secretary, and those providing only supplementary enforcement guidance are signed by the Director of Enforcement Programs. The enforcement memos that provide interpretations of OSHA standard are also posted chronologically on the OSHA webpage for Standard Interpretations.

By Topic

Aircraft Flight Attendants

04/01/2014 - Applicability of Certain OSHA Standards to Cabin Crew Members on Aircraft in Operation - [1910.95; 1910.1030; 1910.1200]

Annual Appropriations Exemptions

03/09/2022 - Appropriations Act: Replacement of Appendix A for CPL 02-00-051, Enforcement Exemptions and Limitations under the Appropriations Act

Anti-retaliation

10/11/2018 - Clarification of OSHA's Position on Workplace Safety Incentive Programs and Post-Incident Drug Testing Under 29 C.F.R. §1904.35(b)(1)(iv) - [1904.35(b)(1)(iv)]
11/10/2016 - Interim Enforcement Procedures for New Recordkeeping Requirements Under 29 CFR 1904.35 - [1904.35; 1904.41]

Beryllium Standards

04/21/2021 - Interim Enforcement Guidance for the 2020 Final Beryllium Standards - [1910.1024; 1915.1024; 1926.1124]

Combustible Dust

04/21/2015 - Evaluating Hazardous Levels of Accumulation Depth for Combustible Dusts - [1910.22; 1910.22(a)(1); 1910.22(a)(2); 1910.176; 1910.176(c)]

07/07/2021 - Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - [Section 5(a)(1)] - [1910.132; 1910.134; 1910.141; 1910.145; 1910.1020]

Cranes and Derricks

11/25/2019 - Temporary Enforcement Policy- Certification Issued by Crane Institute Certification - [1926 Subpart CC; 1926.1427(d)]

Electric Power Standards

12/22/2016 - Enforcement of minimum approach distance requirements in 29 CFR 1910.269 and 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart V - [1910.269; 1910.269(a)(3); 1910.269(l)(3); 1926.960; 1926.960(c)(1)]

Emphasis Program Development

12/03/2014 - Procedures for Local and Regional Emphasis Programs
11/12/2014 - Establishment-Targeting Lists for Emphasis Programs

Enforcement Weighting System

09/30/2019 - Revisions to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Weighting System

Ergonomics

10/28/2015 - Inspection Guidance for Poultry Slaughtering and Poultry Processing Establishments - [Section 5(a)(1)] - [1904 - Table of Contents; 1910 Subpart E; 1910.95; 1910.119; 1910.132; 1910.141; 1910.147; 1910.212; 1910.1200; 1913.10 ]
06/25/2015 - Inspection Guidance for Inpatient Healthcare Settings - [Section 5(a)(1)] - [1904 - Table of Contents; 1910.23; 1910.132; 1910.1030; 1910.1200; 1913.10 ]

Exits

06/18/2019 - Termination of the January 2009 Corporate-Wide Settlement Agreement between United Parcel Service (UPS) and OSHA; Enforcement of 20 CFR 1910.37(a)(3) and 29 CFR 1910.36(g)(2) - [1910.36(g)(2); 1910.37(a)(3)]

Incentive Programs/Disincentives

03/12/2012 - Employer Safety Incentive and Disincentive Policies and Practices

Injury and Illness Reports

04/04/2022 - ITA Non-Responder Enforcement Computer Program
05/06/2021 - Enforcement Procedures for Failure to Submit Electronic Illness and Injury Records under 29 CFR 1904.41(a)(1) and (a)(2) - [1904.41; 1904.41(a)(1); 1904.41(a)(2); 1904.41(c)(2)]
03/04/2016 - Revised Interim Enforcement Procedures for Reporting Requirements under 29 C.F.R. 1904.39 - [1904.39]

Medical and First Aid

03/31/2020 - Cyanide Antidotes - [1910.126(e); 1910.151; 1910.151(a); 1910.1000]

Penalties and Citation Policies

01/26/2023 - Application of Instance-by-Instance Penalty Adjustments - [1904.39]
01/26/2023 - Exercising Discretion When Not to Group Violations
12/20/2022 - 2023 Annual Adjustments to OSHA Civil Penalties

Process Safety Management (PSM)

04/27/2021 - PSM Coverage of LNG Facilities - [1910.119]
04/30/2018 - Memorandum to Regional Administrators – Process Safety Management Retail Exemption Enforcement Policy - [1910.119]
07/21/2016 - Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals and Covered Concentrations of Listed Appendix A Chemicals - [1910.119]
05/11/2016 - RAGAGEP in Process Safety Management Enforcement - [1910.119]

Rope Descent Systems

11/20/2017 - Enforcement Guidance for General Industry Rope Descent System (RDS) Anchorage Requirements (29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1)) - [1910.21(b); 1910.27(b)(1); 1910.27(b)(1)(i); 1910.27(b)(1)(ii); 1910.27(b)(1)(iii); 1910.27(b)(2)(iv); 1910.30; 1910 Subpart B; 1910 Subpart D]

Small Farms

07/29/2014 - Policy Clarification on OSHA's Enforcement Authority at Small Farms

Training Must Be Understandable

04/28/2010 - OSHA Training Standards Policy Statements - [1910.134(k); 1910.147(c); 1910.1030(g); 1910.1200(h); 1926.21]

Tree Care Industry

06/30/2021 - Inspection Guidance for Tree Care and Tree Removal Operations - [1910.67]