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
Guards for Belt and Shaft Drives on Blow Motors 1910.212, 1910.219, 1910.219(e)(1)(i)
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)
Machine guarding and compliance with 29 CFR 1910.219(m). 1910.219(m)
OSHA's machine guarding requirements provide no exemption from guarding based on shaft size or speed. 1910.219(c)(2)(i), 1910.219(c)(5)
Questions and answers about color coding machine and machine guards according to ANSI Z535.1-1990 1910.144, 1910.144(a)(3), 1910.219, 1910.219(p)(1), 1910.219(p)(2), 1910.219(p)(3), 1910.219(p)(4), 1910.219(p)(5), 1910.219(p)(6), 1910.219(p)(7)
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
Acceptable alternative to metal guards in mechanical power-transmission apparatus. 1910.219(m)
Requirements for machine and machinery guarding in the workplace. 1910.219
OSHA's Standards as they apply to air-conditioning units. 1910.219
Applicability of the Machine Guarding and Lockout/Tagout standards to printing presses 1910.147, 1910.212, 1910.219
Printing Presses: requirements for normal production and servicing operations 1910.147, 1910.212, 1910.219
Machine guarding for the food processing industry. 1910.212, 1910.219
Requirements for guarding points of operation and belts on heavy duty sewing machines 1910.212(a)(1), 1910.219
Mechanical power-transmission apparatus: compliance with current consensus standards. 1910.219
Standard applicable to paper and plastic shredder machines. 1910.212, 1910.219, 1910.144
Guarding requirements for package tying machines. 1910.212, 1910.219
Standards applicable to Bell Industries "Carb-Cutter" powered tool. 1910.132, 1910.133, 1910.219, 1910.242(a), 1910.243(a), 1910.243(c), 1926.28, 1926.102(a), 1926.300, 1926.302(c), 1926.303, 1926.304
Extent to which safety mats provide for compliance with OSHA regulations for machine guarding. 1910.212, 1910.219
Guarding of flywheels on power presses. 1910.219(b)(1)
A safety sleeve designed for guarding projecting shaft ends and a clarification of the term "safety sleeve". 1910.219