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
Inspection Guidance for Animal Slaughtering and Processing Establishments 1903.8, 1904, 1910 Subpart E, 1910.95, 1910.111, 1910.119, 1910.132, 1910.141, 1910.147, 1910.212, 1910.1000, 1910.1200, 1913.10
Guards for Belt and Shaft Drives on Blow Motors 1910.212, 1910.219, 1910.219(e)(1)(i)
Trip and Emergency Switches on Mills and Calenders 1910.216, 1910.212(a)(3)(iv)(e), 1910.212(a)(3)(iv)(i), 1910.216(e), 1910.216(f)(1), 1910.216(f)(2), 1910.216(f)(3), 1910.147
Inspection Guidance for Poultry Slaughtering and Poultry Processing Establishments 1904 - Table of Contents, 1910 Subpart E, 1910.95, 1910.119, 1910.132, 1910.141, 1910.147, 1910.212, 1910.1200, 1913.10
General requirements for all machines 1910.212
Speed-Sensing Machine Guards 1910.212
Guarding machines on moveable benches and pedestals 1910.212
Guarding and the use of abrasive wheels in CNC contouring machines. 1910.212, 1910.212(a), 1910.215, 1910.215(a), 1910.215(a)(1), 1910.215(a)(2), 1910.215(a)(2)(i)
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
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)
Interlock requirements for access door(s) of trash compactor. 1910.147, 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), 1910.212
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)
Machine guarding and exposure to hazards from robotic laundry shuttles. 1910.147, 1910.212, 1910.212(a)(1)
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)
Use of the European Norms and European Community machinery directive to comply with the 1910.212 "General [guarding] requirements for all machines." 1910.212, 1910.212(a)(1), 1910.212(a)(3)
Use of laser guarding devices for hydraulic press brakes 1910.212, 1910.212(a)
Use of laser guarding systems with hydraulic press brakes 1910.212, 1910.212(a)(1), 1910.212(a)(3)
Maximum permissible guard openings for blade guards on cooling fans 1910.212, 1910.212(a)(5), 1910.217
OSHA machine guarding standards and the ISO/IEC standards adopted under the GATT; National Emphasis Program on Amputations 1910.211, 1910.212, 1910.213, 1910.214, 1910.215, 1910.216, 1910.217, 1910.218, 1910.219
Use of Electro Sensitive Protection Equipment as point of operation guarding devices. 1910.212(a)(3)(ii)