Letters of Interpretation | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Letters of Interpretation

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards, and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. Each letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed.

Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information.

These letters of interpretation and the standards they address may not apply to OSHA State Plans. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or additional requirements. Please see OSHA-approved State Plans for more information.

NOTICE:

How to Request a Letter of Interpretation

Date	Title	Standard Number
02/03/1995	Community response personnel with regards to HAZWOPER.	1910.120
12/27/1994	Review of Manual for training personnel engaged in oil spill emergency response.	1910.120, 1910.121, 1910.146, 1910.1200, 1910.1030
12/21/1994	Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response.	1910.120
11/22/1994	Bloodborne Pathogen and HAZWOPER-Media Coverage.	1910.1030
11/22/1994	The use of computer-based training to satisfy OSHA training requirements.	1910.120, 1926.65
11/18/1994	OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard.	1910.120
11/08/1994	Clarification on HAZWOPER emergency response training requirements.	1910.120
10/11/1994	The acceptability of a computer based, self-paced training program for use in meeting the refresher training requirements of the standard.	1910.120
09/01/1994	The applicability of HAZWOPER emergency response training requirements to workers who change leaking chlorine cylinders in a water treatment facility.	1910.120
08/24/1994	Application of OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard to employers of news media personnel who are covering emergency response incidents.	1910.120
07/28/1994	HAZWOPER refresher training requirements.	1910.120
07/07/1994	Management and supervisors' training required in paragraph (e)(4) of the standard.	1910.120
04/26/1994	HAZWOPER and Asbestos standards apply to any emergency response to an uncontrolled hazardous substance release involving the presence of asbestos.	1910.120, 1926.1101
01/31/1994	Members of a HAZMAT team.	1910.120
08/05/1993	Post-emergency response and medical surveillance requirements of HAZWOPER	1910.120
07/28/1993	Minnesota administers its own occupational Safety & Health Program.	1910.120
06/22/1993	Response to emergency in "normal work area" definition.	1910.120
06/17/1993	Whether an off-site HAZMAT emergency response team may be permitted to all areas of a hazardous waste site in an emergency response action.	1910.120
04/20/1993	Clarification on first aid requirements for hazardous waste sites.	1910.120, 1910.120(e)(3)(ii), 1910.120(l)(2)(viii), 1910.151, 1910.151(b), 1910.1030
04/16/1993	Training requirements for emergency and post-emergency response to marine-based oil spills.	1910.120(a)(3), 1910.120(q)(6)(iii), 1910.120(q)(6)