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
12/30/1983	Use of an Aluminum Pole Jack Scaffold at a 50 foot shoulder working height.	1910.28, 1926.451
12/30/1983	Clarification of 157(f)(16).
12/22/1983	Paragraph (a)(2) applies to respirators provided for emergency use.	1910.134(a)(2)
12/02/1983	Interpretation of the term "close hook".	1926.550
11/29/1983	Work in compressed air and underground tunnelling.	1926.804, 1926.803
11/17/1983	Propane tank installation in passenger-carrying vehicles.	1910.110(e)(4)(i)
11/14/1983	Testing requirements for piping, valves, and fittings; Testing requirements for piping, valves, and fittings	1910.106(c)(1)(i), 1910.106(b)(7)
11/09/1983	Diking requirements for cyanide electroplating baths.	1910.126(e)
10/26/1983	A serious safety problem related to drilling equipment manufacture.
10/25/1983	Construction Safety Standards are enforced for maintenance painting of the building or structure at a manufacturing plant.	1910.12(b)
10/24/1983	Mobile construction scaffolding.	1926.451
10/23/1983	Carcinogen standards requirements for fume hood face velocities do not apply to laboratories.	1910.1003, 1910.1016
10/17/1983	One type of muff and plug available for employee hearing protector selection.	1910.95(i)(3)
10/13/1983	A free standing scaffold shall be considered safe when the total height is equal to or less than four times the minimum or least base dimension.	1926.451(d)(7)
10/04/1983	The use of self-tripping on hydraulic power presses.	1910.217
10/04/1983	Nuisance dust standard applies to grain dust exposures.	1910.1000
10/04/1983	Standards for falling hazards less than 25 feet.	1926.28(a)
09/30/1983	Ear muffs and ear plugs are not both required if one offers protection.	1910.95(i)(3)
09/27/1983	Notification requirements for standard threshold shifts.	1910.95
09/23/1983	Employee access to medical records.	1910.1020