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

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Date Title Standard Number
Request to expand the application of the "de minimis" policy regarding Section 1926.453(b)(2)(iii) and the use of the "Wishbone" fall protection device beyond the parameters described in OSHA's February 2, 2004 letter to Mr. Michael Kurtgis. 1926.453(b)(2)(iii)
Frequency of evaluating audiometric testing rooms to meet the specifications in Appendix D of the Occupational Noise standard. 1910.95(h)(4), 1910.95 App D
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
Audiometric baseline revisions in employee rehire situations. 1910.95
Questions regarding the Permit-Required Confined Space standard, 1910.146, and the Grain Handling standard, 1910.272. 1910.146, 1910.146(c)(2), 1910.272, 1910.272(e)(1)(i), 1910.272(g), 1910.272(g)(3), 1910.272(g)(5)
MSDS's must be provided to employees who package/process drugs for distribution into final form if they contain hazardous chemicals 1910.1200, 1910.1200(b)(6), 1910.1200(b)(6)(vii), 1910.1200(e)
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)
Requirements of 1926.404(b)(1) application to 208-volt branch circuits; electrical subcontractor requirements under 1926.404(b)(1) to monitor other on-site subcontractors. 1926 - Table of Contents, 1926.404, 1926.404(b)(1), 1926.404(b)(1)(i), 1926.404(b)(1)(ii), 1926.404(b)(1)(iii), 1926.32(f)
Documentation methods used to comply with the qualitative evaluation of a range of possible safety/health effects of "failure of controls" requirement of the PSM standard. 1910.119, 1910.119(e), 1910.119(e)(3)
Use of personal cooling fans listed for "residential use only" in an industrial setting. 1910.303, 1910.303(b)(2), 1910.399
Construction industry asbestos standard definition of "regulated area" and requirements for work involving materials of <1% asbestos for demolition and sheetrock projects. 1926.1101, 1926.1101(e), 1926.1101(e)(1), 1926.1101(g), 1926.1101(g)(1)(ii), 1926.1101(g)(1)(iii), 1926.1101(g)(3)(i), 1926.1101(g)(3)(ii), 1926.1101(g)(3)(iv), 1926.1101(g)(7)
Requirements for protecting against the automatic restart of low-voltage light-duty woodworking and metalworking equipment following an unscheduled electrical outage. 1910.213, 1910.213(b)(3), 1910.303(b)(2)
29 CFR 1926.350(a)(7), securing compressed gas cylinders - rational for and hazards addressed by the requirement. 1926.350, 1926.350(a), 1926.350(a)(1), 1926.350(a)(6), 1926.350(a)(7), 1926.350(a)(9), 1926.350(a)(11), 1926.350(a)(12)
Safety chain requirements for pile driving hammer hoses. 1926.603, 1926.603(a)(9), 1926.603(a)(10)
Application of OSHA construction standards that govern the loading of materials onto scissor lifts and the restraining of those stored materials. 1926.450, 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.454(a), 1926.454(b), 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.250, 1926.451(h), 1926.451(f), 1926.452(w)
Application of OSHA construction standards to govern the use of pneumatic hand tools used in construction for cleaning concrete forms, bridge decks, and roads. 1915 - Table of Contents, 1917 - Table of Contents, 1926 - Table of Contents, 1926.151(a)(5), 1926.152(i)(6), 1926.300, 1926.300(a), 1926.302(b), 1926.302(b)(1), 1926.302(b)(4), 1926.302(b)(5), 1926.302(b)(7)
Use of a warning line instead of conventional fall protection; Part 1926 Subpart M 1926.501(b)(10), 1926.501(b)(1), 1926.501(b)(2), 1926.502(b), 1926.502(f)(2)
OSHA's multi-employer citation policy application to a homeowner who contracts with specialty contractors to perform construction on a house
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)
Availability of the Servicing Multi-piece and Single Piece Rim Wheels standard's required charts and rim manuals. 1910.177