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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Date	Title	Standard Number
01/25/2008	Use of a PLC system as an alternative measure which provides effective protection for minor servicing activities.	1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.147(b)
05/04/2007	Lockout/Tagout and the provisions for testing or positioning of machines while they are energized.	1910.217, 1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.147(b), 1910.147(f)(1)
04/23/2007	Application of Control of Hazardous Energy (LOTO) requirements to compressed gas cylinders.	1910.147, 1910.147(b), 1910.147(c)(7), 1910.147(c)(7)(iii)(A), 1910.147(c)(7)(iii)(B), 1910.147(f)(2)(i)
04/18/2007	PRCS and LOTO requirements for accumulation of stored energy in steam pits	1910.146, 1910.147, 1910.147(d)(5)(ii)
04/17/2007	OSHA training Standards Policy Statement.	1910.134(k)(5)(ii), 1910.147(c)(7)(i), 1910.1030(g)(2)(vii)(N), 1926.21(b)(2)
02/26/2007	Evaluation of the ElectroGuard disconnect system for use as an energy isolating device.	1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.147(b)
12/28/2006	Application of the Lockout/Tagout standard to die-setting activities and other machine setup operations.	1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.147(a)(2)(iii)(A), 1910.147(b), 1910.212
10/11/2006	Use of LOTO device on equipment placed in "out of service" status not related to servicing or maintenance.	1910.147, 1910.147(a)(1)(i), 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)
08/25/2006	Several questions regarding OSHA's LOTO and Bakery standards 29 CFR 1910.147 and 1910.263.	1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.147(b), 1910.147(f)(1), 1910.212, 1910.212(a)(2), 1910.219, 1910.219(m)(1), 1910.263, 1910.263(l)(9)(ii)
07/28/2006	Clarification about 29 CFR 1910.333 and 29 CFR 1910.147 as they relate to work inside an electrical panel and on related equipment.	1910.137, 1910.147, 1910.333, 1910.333(a)(1), 1910.333(a)(2), 1910.333(b), 1910.333(b)(2), 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E), 1910.333(c)(2), 1910.335
07/12/2006	PSM compliance for ammonia refrigeration systems.	1910.38, 1910.119, 1910.119(d)(3)(i), 1910.119(d)(3)(ii), 1910.119(e)(3), 1910.119(j)(6)(i), 1910.119(j)(6)(ii), 1910.119(k)(2), 1910.119(l)(2)(i), 1910.119(l)(4), 1910.119(l)(5), 1910.119(m)(3), 1910.119(o)(1), 1910.120, 1910.134, 1910.147, 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)
05/09/2006	Use of additional lock on a conveyor and baler system exceeds one lockout device.	1910.147, 1910.147(c)(4)(i)
01/18/2006	Interlock requirements for access door(s) of trash compactor.	1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.212
10/24/2005	Training programs for the Control of Hazardous Energy (LOTO) and for the Hazard Communication standard are not satisfied solely by merely providing employees written documentation.	1910.147, 1910.147(c)(7)(i), 1910.1200, 1910.1200(h)
08/24/2005	Lockout/tagout requirements for servicing manually-controlled vertical/horizontal milling machine and drill press tool changes.	1910 Subpart O, 1910 Subpart S, 1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.147(a)(2)(iii)(A), 1910.212, 1910.212(a)(3)(iv)
07/07/2005	Machine guarding and exposure to hazards from robotic laundry shuttles.	1910.147, 1910.212, 1910.212(a)(1)
05/10/2005	Hazardous energy control lockout/tagout (LOTO) program documentation and certification requirements.	1910.147(c), 1910.147(c)(4), 1910.147(c)(5), 1910.147(c)(6), 1910.147(c)(7), 1910.147(c)(7)(iv)
04/22/2005	Lock out/Tag out (LOTO) requirements for die-setting operations in hydraulic power presses.	1910.212(a)(3)(ii), 1910.217, 1910.217(d)(9)(iv), 1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.147(b), 1910.147(d), 1910.147(f)(1)
02/10/2005	OSHA does not test, approve, certify, or endorse any equipment, product, or procedure, including machine design and risk assessment techniques.	1910 Subpart O, 1910.147
12/07/2004	LOTO: Use of heavy-duty nylon cable ties as lockout devices in lieu of chains and locks.	1910.147, 1910.147(c)(5)(i), 1910.147(c)(3), 1910.147(c)(5)