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

Filters


Date Title Standard Number
Use of generic safety data sheets and consumer products 1910.1200(b)(6)(ix), 1910.1200(g), 1910.1200(g)(4)
NRTL Certification for New Product Design 1910.7, 1910.178, 1910.6, 1910.6(e)(29), 1910.140, 1910.155(c)(3)(iv)(A)
Application of OSHA’s HAZWOPER standard to homeless camp cleanup operations 1910.120, 1910.120(a)(1)(iii), 1910.120(a)(2)(i), 1910.120(a)(3)
Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 1910.132, 1910.134, 1910.141, 1910.145, 1910.1020
Coverage of lithium-ion batteries under the Hazard Communication standard 1910.1200, 1910.1200(b)(1), 1910.1200(b)(5)(v), 1910.1200(b)(6)(v), 1910.1200(c), 1910.1200(d)(1)
Group Lockout or Tagout 1910.147(f)(3)
Enforcement Procedures for Failure to Submit Electronic Illness and Injury Records under 29 CFR 1904.41(a)(1) and (a)(2) 1904.41, 1904.41(a)(1), 1904.41(a)(2)
Minimum approach distance (MAD) requirements covered under 1910.269 when installing protective grounding equipment 1910.269, 1910.269(l)(3), 1910.269(m)(3)(viii), 1910.269(n)(3)
Measurement of background noise levels for audiograms 1910.95(h)(4), 1910.95 App D
PSM Coverage of LNG Facilities 1910.119
Classifying cloth-like wipes saturated with a hazardous solution under OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard 1910.1200(b)(1), 1910.1200(b)(2), 1910.1200(d)(1)
Hands-on training requirements of the OSHA HAZWOPER 1910.120(e)(3)
Interim Enforcement Guidance for the 2020 Final Beryllium Standards 1910.1024, 1915.1024, 1926.1124
Use of powered-air purifying respirators (PAPR) for welding operations and assigned protection factor 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A)
HCS compliant labeling of outer and inner packaging 1910.1200(c), 1910.1200(f)(1)
HCS listing of occupational exposure limits (OELs) in section 8 on a safety data sheet (SDS), and applicability of different exposures to pharmaceutical drugs 1910.1200(b)(6)(vii), 1910.1200(g)(2)(viii)
OSHA PSM and Explosives Standards as They Relate to the DOT Classification "Not in the Explosive Class" 1910.109, 1910.109(a), 1910.109(k), 1910.109(k)(2), 1910.109(k)(3), 1910.119, 1910.119(a)
Determining if Injuries and Illnesses are work-related when employees commute from home to work and from a hotel to a worksite. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5
Determining who is responsible for recording an Injury or illness of police officer candidates when they attend training at a police academy. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.31
Determining whether to record an employee’s injury that involved both work-related and non-work-related incidents. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5