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
Facial hair and voluntary use of filtering facepiece respirators. 1910.134, 1910.134(a), 1910.134(c)(2)(ii)
Employee's rights upon termination to access to physician's written opinion and respirator fit test results. 1926.1101(m)(4), 1910.134(m), 1910.134(m)(2), 1910.134(m)(4)
Respirator breathing air cylinders must be maintained in a fully chargd state, regardless of cylinder size, and recharged when pressure falls below 90% of full charge. 1910.134(h)(3)(iii)
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Protection: prohibition of enforcing annual fit testing requirements during 2005 fiscal year; enforcement of other 1910.134 provisions. 1910.134, 1910.134(f)(2), 1910.134(f)(3), 1910.134(f)(4)
Requirements for providing medical evaluations prior to wearing respiratory protection for training exercises. 1910.134, 1910.134(e)
Respiratory protection medical evaluations: additional evaluations; use of employee's physician; testing; medical removal; and confidentiality. 1910.134, 1910.134(c), 1910.134(e)(5)
Requirements for fit testing employees before fire brigade training exercises. 1910.134, 1910.134(f)
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Protection. 1910.134, 1910.134(c), 1910.134(e), 1910.134(f), 1910.134(k), 1910.134(m)
Respiratory protection program requirements for M. tuberculosis based on risk assessments; applicability of the respirator standard to long-term healthcare facilities. 1910.134
Fit testing is not required for employees not exposed to a hazardous atmosphere and not required to wear a respirator. 1910.134, 1910.134(f)
Fit testing requirements for employees who wear respirators to protect against M. Tuberculosis, SARS, Smallpox, and Monkeypox. 1910.134, 1910.134(f)
Beards may not interfere with face seal;alternative respirators for bearded employees. 1910.134, 1910.134(d)(1)(i), 1910.134(g)(1)(i)
Respiratory protection and emergency escape requirements for IDLH atmospheres. 1910.120, 1910.120(q)(3), 1910.134, 1910.134(g)(3), 1910.146, 1910.146(i), 1910.146(k)(1)
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, medical surveillance, and training requirements under HAZWOPER 1910.134(e), 1910.134(f), 1910.134, 1910.120, 1910.120(q)(6)(i), 1910.120(q)(6)(ii), 1910.120(q)(8)
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 an electronic medical questionnaire system to comply with 1910.134(e). 1910.134(e), 1910.134 App C
Classification of fires; respiratory protection to extinguish fires. 1910.134(b), 1910.134(g)(4), 1910.155(c)(26), 1910.156(a)(2)
Fit testing and medical monitoring requirements for wearers of filtering facepiece respirators. 1910.134(f)(2), 1910.134(e)(1), 1910.134(g)(1)(iii)
Tuberculosis testing procedures for the home health care industry. 1910.134