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 Standard Number
Memorandum to Regional Administrators – Process Safety Management Retail Exemption Enforcement Policy 1 1910.119
Voluntary use respirators 5 1910.134, 1910.134(c)(2), 1910.134(c)(4), 1910.134(f), 1910.134(e)
Filtering facepiece respirators and medical evaluations 3 1910.134(b), 1910.134(c)(2), 1910.134 App D
Regarding guardrail systems and fall protection requirements to scaffold systems, including form scaffolds. 1 1926.451(g)(4)(i)
Labeling and waste disposal requirements for glovebags in OSHA’s asbestos standard for construction 4 1926.1101, 1926.1101(b), 1926.1101(k)(8)(i), 1926.1101(l)(2)
Paint operations on aircraft and ground support equipment as related to the Chromium (VI) Standard’s exception for aircraft painting 1 1910.1026(f)(1)(ii)
Delay of Enforcement of the Beryllium Standards under 29 CFR 1910.1024, 29 CFR 1915.1024, and 29 CFR 1926.1124 3 1910.1024, 1915.1024, 1926.1124
Interim Enforcement Procedures for Failure to Submit Electronic Illness and Injury Records under 29 CFR 1904.41(a)(1) and (a)(2) 2 1904.41(a)(1), 1904.41(a)(2)
Medical surveillance requirements in OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica standard for construction 7 1926.1153, 1926.1153(e)(1), 1926.1153(e)(2), 1926.1153(h)(1)(i), 1926.1153(h)(2), 1926.1153(i)(2)(i)(A), 1926.1153(i)(2)(i)(F)
Recording Injuries and Illnesses of Temporary Workers versus HIPAA Requirements 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.31
Implementation of the 2018 Annual Adjustment Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvement Act of 2015 0
Clarification on the use of a cold compression device is considered medical treatment. 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.7(b)(5)
Voluntary use of surgical masks 1 1910.134
OSHA’s Noise Standard as it applies to medical personnel allowed to interpret audiograms 3 1910.95(g)(3), 1910.95(g)(7), 1910.95(g)(8)
Use of sampling devices that meet the ISO/CEN particle-size-selective criteria for respirable crystalline silica sampling 4 1910.1053, 1926.1153 - Index, 1910.1053(k)(1), 1926.1153(j)(1)
Hazard Communication Standard – Globally Harmonized System Revision 5 1 1910.1200
Clarification on the use of a rigid boot as a precautionary measure 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.7(b)(7)
Enforcement Guidance for General Industry Rope Descent System (RDS) Anchorage Requirements (29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1)) 9 1910.21(b), 1910.27(b)(1), 1910.27(b)(1)(i), 1910.27(b)(1)(ii), 1910.27(b)(1)(iii), 1910.27(b)(2)(iv), 1910.30, 1910 Subpart B, 1910 Subpart D
CPL 02-00-124; Multi-Employer Citation Policy 1 1926.501
Safety factor requirement in the design of handrails and top rails. 1 1926.1052(c)(5)