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

Filters


Date Title Standard Number
Safe tieback angles for controlled boatswain's chairs. 1910.28, 1910.28(j), 1910.30, 1910.30(g)(2)
Fall protection and aerial lifts in the Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution industries. 1910.28, 1910.28(a)(12), 1910.28(d)(7), 1910.28(d)(12), 1910.29, 1910.29(a)(3), 1910.67, 1910.269, 1910.269(a)(2)
Whether OSHA standards prohibit using two power hoists wired together to a single control;whether a minimum of two persons are required to be on board a two-point suspended scaffold. 1926.451, 1926.451(d)(13), 1926.452
Fall protection requirements for workers on guardrail-equipped platforms. 1926.451(g)(1), 1926.451(g)(4)
Walkways within scaffolds, guardrails, and planking. 1926.450(b), 1926.451(b)(1), 1926.451(g)(1)(v)
Acceptability of a fixed ramp with a one-in-four slope on an industrial conveyor. 1910.23, 1910.132
Applicability of scaffold fall protection to guardrails near ladder access areas on scaffolds; toeboards across ladder access areas. 1926.451(e), 1926.451(e)(2), 1926.451(g), 1926.451(g)(1), 1926.451(h), 1926.451(h)(2), 1926.1053(b)(1)
Moving Mobile Scaffolds. 1926.452(w)(2), 1926.452(w)(6)
Requirements for being designated a competent person under Part 1926 Subpart L (Scaffolds). 1926.450(b), 1926.451(f)(7), 1926 Subpart L
Whether it is permissible to use a concrete block hanging on a coupling pin as a counterweight to prevent a scaffold from tipping. 1926.451, 1926.451(a), 1926.451(a)(1), 1926.451(a)(12), 1926.451(b), 1926.451(b)(5), 1926.451(b)(5)(i), 1926.451(b)(5)(ii), 1926.451(c)(1)(iii)
Requirements for leaving construction equipment and powder-actuated tools unattended on a construction building site; impalement protection from reinforcing steel for masonry workers on a scaffold. 1910.178(m)(5), 1910.178(m)(5)(ii), 1910.178(m)(5)(iii), 1926.302, 1926.302(e), 1926.302(e)(6), 1926.600, 1926.600(a)(3), 1926.600(a)(3)(i), 1926.600(a)(3)(ii), 1926.701(b), 1926.702(a), 1926.702(b)
Whether there is a conflict between provisions in 1926.451 regarding the use of screening. 1926.451, 1926.451(a), 1926.451(g), 1926.451(g)(1), 1926.451(g)(2), 1926.451(g)(2)(iii), 1926.451(g)(4), 1926.451(g)(4)(ix), 1926.451(g)(4)(v), 1926.451(g)(4)(vii), 1926.451(g)(4)(viii), 1926.451(h), 1926.451(h)(1), 1926.451(h)(2)
Whether a safety factor must be incorporated into the design of footings for supported scaffolds. 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.451(c)(2)(i)
Use of 2"x6" No 2 pine boards as a scaffold platform; application of 1926.451(a) and 1926.451(f)(16) when erecting and dismantling scaffolds. 1926.451(a), 1926.451(f)(16), 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.451(b)(1), 1926.451(b)(1)(i), 1926.451(b)(2), 1926.450(a), 1926.451(f)(7), 1926.450(b)
Scaffolding/shoring 1926.451(g)(2), 1926.500, 1926.500(a)(2), 1926.501(b)(1), 1926.501(b)(14), 1926.501(d)(15), 1926.700(b)(2), 1926.1050(b), 1926.1051(a)
Tie-in requirements for supported scaffolds; errors in Non-Mandatory Appendix E. 1926.451(a)(1), 1926.451(a)(2), 1926.451(a)(3), 1926.451(a)(4), 1926.451(a)(5), 1926.451(c)(1), 1926.451(c)(1)(ii), 1926.451(g)
Whether scaffold components may be loaded in excess of minimum load ratings specified in 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart L; whether a safety factor must be added to such load ratings; Non-Mandatory Appendix A. 1926.451, 1926.451(a)(1), 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.451(f)(1), 1926.451(g)(4), 1926.451(g)(4)(vii), 1926.451(g)(4)(ix), 1926.451(h)(4)(i)
Fall protection requirements for workers constructing a water tower while on a scaffold. 1926.451(g), 1926.451(g)(1), 1926.451(g)(1)(vii), 1926.451(g)(1)(ii), 1926.451(g)(1)(iii), 1926.451(g)(1)(iv), 1926.451(g)(1)(v), 1926.451(g)(1)(vi), 1926.451(g)(4), 1926.451(g)(4)(i), 1926.451(g)(4)(vii), 1926.451(g)(4)(viii), 1926.451(g)(4)(ix)
Application of OSHA construction standards that govern the loading of materials onto scissor lifts and the restraining of those stored materials. 1926.450, 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.454(a), 1926.454(b), 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.250, 1926.451(h), 1926.451(f), 1926.452(w)
Compliance of automatically retractable rest platforms used with self-retracting lifelines for meeting requirements for fixed ladder safety equipment. 1926.1053(a)(19), 1926.1053(a)(19)(i), 1926.1053(a)(19)(ii), 1926.1053(a)(19)(iii), 1926.1050(b)