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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Date	Title	Standard Number	Standard Number
12/20/2012	Pictogram requirements for product labels under the revised Hazard Communication standard.	1	1910.1200
12/18/2012	Guidance on Handling Cases Developed Pursuant to the FRC Enforcement Policy Memorandum.	2	1910.132, 1910.132(a)
12/12/2012	Whether an LED type device ca be used for the isolation and deenergization verification requirements of 1910.147 and 1910.333.	13	1910.147, 1910.147(a)(1)(i), 1910.147(a)(1)(ii)(D), 1910.147(d)(2), 1910.147(d)(3), 1910.147(d)(4), 1910.147(d)(5), 1910.147(d)(6), 1910.333, 1910.333(b), 1910.333(b)(2), 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(D), 1910.333(b)(2)(iv)(B)
12/04/2012	Is reassembly of a cylinder valve a mechanical integrity activity?	2	1910.119, 1910.119(j)(4)(iv)
11/26/2012	Qualifications of designers and inspectors of tiered single-post concrete shoring.	2	1926.703(a)(1), 1926.703(b)(8)(i)
11/26/2012	Powered Industrial Trucks Equipped with Flashing Lights and/or Back-up Beepers	1	1910.178
11/21/2012	Clarification of OSHA safety requirements between a temporary staffing agency and its client	2	1904.31, 1910.1200
11/21/2012	Minimum approach distances for conductive objects to exposed energized parts.	1	1910.269
11/20/2012	Clarification of the lockout/tags-plus standard for maritime employment.	8	1915.80, 1915.81(b)(2), 1915.82, 1915.84, 1915.89, 1915.89(c)(7), 1915.89(k)(2), 1915.89(m)
10/23/2012	Compatibility requirements of fall protection equipment from different manufacturers.	4	1926.502(d)(5), 1926.502(d)(6), 1926.502(e)(7), 1926.502(e)(8)
10/12/2012	Audiograms to Retest Hearing for Threshold Shifts	1	1910.95
10/03/2012	Applicability of Supbart CC standards to equipment with dragline attachments.	4	1926.1400(a), 1926.1400(b), 1926.1427(h)(2), 1926.1400(c)(14)
10/01/2012	Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Requirements for Exposure Control Plans	1	1910.1030
10/01/2012	Clarification of the term controlling entity and responsibility for ground conditions for safe crane operations	3	1926.1402(b), 1926.1402(e), 1926.1412(d)(1)(x)
10/01/2012	OSHA does not have the legal authority to evaluate and certify products.	1	1926.1052(b)
09/24/2012	OSHA's position on the acceptability of digital radiography in place of traditional chest roentgenograms.	6	1910.1001, 1910.1001(l)(2)(ii), 1926.1101, 1926.1101(m)(2)(ii)(C), 1915.1001, 1915.1001(m)(2)(ii)(C)
09/14/2012	Facial Hair Under Seal of Tight-fitting Respirator	1	1910.134
09/12/2012	Criteria and protocols for determining whether peronal fall arrest systems comply with OSHA standards	2	1926.502(d)(16), 1926.502(d)(16)(iii)
08/31/2012	Crane operator certification and whether a practical test is required for re-certification.	3	1926.1427, 1926.1427(a), 1926.1427(j)
08/27/2012	Fall Protection of Telecommunication Workers	1	1910.268