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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How to Request a Letter of Interpretation

Date	Title	Standard Number
04/10/1986	Clarification of our standard railing requirements.	1926.500
04/10/1986	General review of the OSHA noise standard.	1910.95
04/08/1986	Requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard as it applies to the metal chips and other scrap material.	1910.1200
04/07/1986	Benzo(a)pyrene regulated with coal tar pitch volatiles.; Response to request for information on benzo(a)pyrene.	1910.1000, 1910.1002
04/07/1986	Labeling and MSDS requirements for product containing trace quantities of ethylene oxide.; Criterion that must be satisfied in order to assert that a product or operation is exempt for the EtO Standar	1910.1200, 1910.1047(a)(2)
04/03/1986	"Ambu" Bags (Bag Valve Masks) - Pocket Masks
03/28/1986	Wodelic Electronic Welding Helmet	1910.252
03/21/1986	Application of the HCS to flavor extracts	1910.1200
03/20/1986	Applicability of the HCS to castings.	1910.1200
03/20/1986	Design criteria for a standard railing.	1926.500
03/17/1986	Application of the Hazard Communication Standard to lift trucks.	1910.1200
03/12/1986	Hazard evaluation requirements under the Hazard Communication standard.	1910.1200
03/11/1986	MSDS and labeling requirements for copper or aluminum wire or metal products.	1910.1200
03/11/1986	Batam crawler C-350 and C-35 machines used only as a tamper.	1926.550
03/11/1986	Monitoring inspections for long-term abatements.
03/10/1986	Definitions of "massive release", "equipment failure", and "emergency" under the vinyl chloride standard.	1910.1017
03/07/1986	Classifying self-elevating lift boats and enforcement responsibility.	1975.1
03/04/1986	Classification of foundry products such as castings in relation to the HCS.	1910.1200
03/03/1986	Alarm requirements for breathing air compressors;Respirators for paint materials containing TDI or MDI;Full facepiece respirators are required when eye irritation is experienced.	1910.134(i), 1910.134(d)
02/21/1986	Ground Fault Protection as related to extension cords between the permanent wiring and the powered tool.	1926.403