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.

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How to Request a Letter of Interpretation

Date	Title	Standard Number
08/13/2015	The requirements for reporting safety data sheet (SDS) information under the Hazard Communication Standard	1910.1200
08/05/2015	Hazard communication effective dates and labels	1910.1200(j), 1910.1200(f)
07/28/2015	Hazard communication 2012-compliant labels and safety data sheets on shipped containers of hazardous chemicals	1910.1200(f)(6), 1910.1200(g)(6)(iv)
07/27/2015	Hazard communication effective dates and SDSs	1910.1200(j), 1910.1200(g)(1), 1910.1200(g)(6)(iv), 1910.1200(g)(8)
07/02/2015	Label requirements between CPSC and HCS 2012 and aerosol products	1910.1200(f)(1)(iv), 1910.1200 App B, 1910.1200 App C
07/02/2015	HCS 2012 pictograms for aerosol air fresheners	1910.1200(f)(1)(iv), 1910.1200 App B, 1910.1200 App C
06/29/2015	Label requirements between CPSC and HCS 2012 and aerosol products	1910.1200(b)(5)(v), 1910.1200 App C, 1910.1200 App B
06/29/2015	Applicability of gas detector tubes under Hazard Communication 2012	1910.1200(b)(6)(v), 1910.1200(c)
06/29/2015	Definition of complex mixture	1910.1200, 1910.1200(g)(4)
06/25/2015	Inspection Guidance for Inpatient Healthcare Settings	1910.23, 1910.132, 1910.1030, 1910.1200, 1913.10
06/19/2015	Correct use of product identifiers on safety data sheets and labels	1910.1200, 1910.1200(f)(1), 1910.1200(g)(2)(i)
05/26/2015	Requirements for labeling of food additives and intermediate chemicals under the revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012)	1910.1200(b)(5)
05/21/2015	Safety data sheets and label requirements	1910.1200(j), 1910.1200 App C
04/23/2015	Intentionally blank pictograms not allowed in HCS 2012	1910.1200(f)
03/27/2015	Hazard communication requirements for commercial ink cartridges	1910.1200(b)(6)(v), 1910.1200(f), 1910.1200(g), 1910.1200(h)
03/24/2015	Requirement for Unknown Acute Toxicity Statement	1910.1200
02/10/2015	HCS classification and labeling requirements for products containing crystalline silica	1910.1200, 1910.1200(b)(2), 1910.1200(c)
02/10/2015	Practical accommodation for the labeling of small packages under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)	1910.1200, 1910.1200(f)(1)
02/10/2015	Use of multiple countries' information on labels of hazardous chemicals	1910.1200, 1910.1200(f)(1), 1910.1200(f)(2), 1910.1200(g)(1)
12/23/2014	Applicability of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard for truck drivers hauling waste products that are exempt by EPA	1910.1200(b)(2), 1910.1200(b)(6)(i), 1910.1200(b)(6)(xi), 1910.1200(c), 1910.1200(h)(1), 1910.1200(h)(2), 1910.1200(h)(3), 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii), 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii), 1910.1096(i)(2)