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
12/30/1993	Federal posting requirements.	1903 - Table of Contents, 1910.146(c)(2), 1910.146(e)(3)
12/30/1993	Federal posting requirements applicable to an employer with no more than 10 employees.	1903 - Table of Contents, 1903.2, 1903.3, 1903.16, 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.16, 1910.146
11/15/1993	Permit-Required Confined Spaces: metal container curing ovens.	1910.146(c)(7), 1910.147, 1910.146(b)
10/22/1993	Permit Required Confined Space Standard as it applies to certain operations.	1910.146
10/21/1993	Permit Required Confined Spaces Standard requires employers to retain canceled entry permits for at least one year.	1910.146
10/20/1993	Elevator repair and servicing.	1910.146
10/15/1993	Summit's training program on confined space entry.	1910.146
10/15/1993	Who is required to wear the body harnesses and retrieval lines.	1910.146
10/08/1993	Confined space standard for general industry.	1910.146, 1926.21, 1926.651
10/08/1993	The meaning of the word "entrapment" as in the Permit Required Confined Space (PRCS) standard.	1910.146
09/23/1993	Confined space standard for general industry.	1910.146, 1926.21, 1926.651
08/11/1993	Clarification of the definition of a permit-required confined space (permit space).	1910.146
08/04/1993	Permit-Required Confined Spaces for General Industry.	1910.146
07/30/1993	Conflict between requirements of 1910.252 and 1910.146	1910.252, 1910.146
07/13/1993	Work performed in conjunction with insulated enclosures.	1910.146
07/07/1993	Confined Space provisions of 29 CFR 1910.261 in light of the promulgation of 29 CFR 1910.146	1910.261, 1910.146
07/02/1993	Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS).	1910.146
05/19/1993	Interpretation of coverage for the telecommunications industry with regard to the new Permit-Required Confined Spaces standard.	1910.5, 1910.146, 1910.268
05/10/1993	Clarification of paragraphs (c)(5) and (c)(7) of the Permit-Required Confined Spaces standard.	1910.146
06/15/1992	Soil testing for excavations and confined spaces.	1926.21, 1910.146, 1926.651(g)