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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Date Title Standard Number
Assessing hazardous skin or eye exposure to hexavalent chromium for providing appropriate personal protective equipment. 1910.132, 1910.1026, 1910.1026(h)(1), 1915.152, 1915.1026, 1915.1026(g)(1), 1926.95, 1926.1126(g)(1)
Wearing short-sleeved shirts while performing a thermal spray operation with exposure to hexavalent chromium fumes. 1910.132, 1910.1026(h)(1)
OSHA requirements for warning signs and protection from electric-arc-flash hazards and compliance with NFPA 70E-2004. 1910.5, 1910.5(c)(1), 1910.5(f), 1910.132, 1910.145, 1910.303, 1910.303(e), 1910.333, 1910.333(a)(1), 1910.333(b)(2), 1910.335, 1910.335(b), 1910.335(b)(1), 1910.335(a)(1)(iv), 1910.335(a)(1)(v), 1910.335(a)(2)(i), 1910.335(a)(2)(ii)
Wearing "Crocs" brand shoes with a partially open heel and a covered toe in a pharmacy setting. 1910.132, 1910.136, 1910.136(a)
Requirement for flame-resistant clothing in petrochemical plant covered by PSM. 1910.132, 1910.132(a), 1910.119, 1910.119(f)(1)(iii)(B), 1910.119(h)(2), 1910.119(h)(3), 1910.119(j)(2)
Acceptability of a fixed ramp with a one-in-four slope on an industrial conveyor. 1910.23, 1910.132
Fall protection requirements when working from ladders in the telecommunications industry 1910.21(b), 1910.23(a)(2), 1910.23(c)(1), 1910.23(c)(3), 1910.27(b)(1), 1910.27(c)(3), 1910.27(c)(7), 1910.27(d)(2), 1910.27(d)(3), 1910.27(d)(4), 1910.132(a)
Payment for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is required to be provided by 1910.132. 1910.132
Requirements for providing seatbelts for drivers whose size precludes their using seatbelts. 1926.601, 1926.601(b)(9), 1926.95(a), 1910.132(a), 1926.601(a)
Concern of potential adverse affects from latex by consumers and health care patients with Hevea Natural Rubber Latex Allergy 1975.3, 1910.132, 1910.1030, 1910.1030(d)(3)(iii)
Wearing of open-toed shoes in an office environment. 1910.132, 1910.132(d), 1910.136, 1910.136(a)
Relevance of NFPA 70E industry consensus standard to OSHA requirements; whether OSHA requirements apply to owners. 1926.402(a), 1910.132, 1910.335, 1926.403, 1926.404, 1926.405, 1926.406, 1926.407, 1926.408, 1910.303(f), 1926.403(h), 1910.12
Training and PPE requirements for hospital staff that decontaminate victims/patients. 1910.120, 1910.120(q), 1910.120(q)(3), 1910.120(q)(3)(iv), 1910.120(q)(6), 1910.120(q)(6)(ii), 1910.134, 1910.134(c), 1910.132, 1910.132(d), 1910.132(d)(2)
Respiratory protection requirements for hospital staff decontaminating chemically contaminated patients. 1910.120, 1910.134, 1910.134(c), 1910.132, 1910.132(d), 1910.132(d)(2), 1910.120(q), 1910.120(q)(3), 1910.120(q)(3)(iv)
Acceptable use of single point anchor systems for window cleaning operations. 1910.132(c)
Fall protection requirements for commercial motor vehicles. 1910.132(a)
Fall protection requirements for both residential and commercial HVAC systems; clarification of confined spaces 1926.501(b), 1926.501(b)(1), 1926.502(f)(2), 1910.132(a), 1926.21(b)(6), 1926.21(b)(6)(ii), 1910.146
Hearing protection and the responsibility for paying for the hearing protectors including replacement devices/parts. 1910.95, 1910.95(i)(1), 1910.132
PPE must be provided for serious sun exposure hazards. 1910.132(a)
Trainee signatures are not required to verify training; U.S. Postal Service is covered by the OSHAct. 1910.132