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
Determining whether to record an employee’s injury that involved both work-related and non-work-related incidents. 2 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. 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.31
Determining if Injuries and Illnesses are work-related when employees commute from home to work and from a hotel to a worksite. 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5
OSHA PSM and Explosives Standards as They Relate to the DOT Classification "Not in the Explosive Class" 7 1910.109, 1910.109(a), 1910.109(k), 1910.109(k)(2), 1910.109(k)(3), 1910.119, 1910.119(a)
Determining the recordability of an illness when an employee uses a rescue inhaler following an exposure in the work place. 3 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5, 1904.7
Fixed Ladders on Grain Storage and Handling Equipment 2 1910.21(b), 1910.28(b)(9)(i)(B)
Reporting two related reportable events. 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.39
CDC Updates to Tuberculosis (TB) Guidelines 0
Clarification of the HAZWOPER standard to employees engaged in the cleanup of blood from crimes or trauma incidents 4 1910.120, 1910.120(q)(6), 1910.120(q)(11), 1910.1030
Fall protection requirements when a rope descent system is used with davit booms 4 1910.140(c)(12), 1910.140(c)(13), 1910.27(b)(1), 1910.140(b)
Emergency eyewash requirements for eye hazards caused by bloodborne pathogens 4 1910.151(c), 1910.1030, 1910.1030(d)(2)(vi), 1910.1030(d)(3)(x)
OSHA standards applicable to medical and safety uses of pure nitrogen gas 3 1910.101, 1910.1200, 1910.1450
Clarification to the disclosure of chemical ingredients in SDS sections 3 and 8 3 1910.1200, 1910.1200(g)(2)(iii), 1910.1200(g)(2)(viii)
Determining if injuries and illnesses are work-related when employees participate in off-site voluntary charitable activity. 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5
Temporary Enforcement Guidance – Tight-Fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) Used During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 2 1910.134, 1910.134(f)(2)
Documentation of PHA Findings and Recommendations 2 1910.119(e)(5), 1910.119(e)(7)
Consuming hydrating liquids and solids in aluminum smelting facilities with beryllium below 0.1 percent (0.1%) by weight 5 1910.141(g)(2), 1910.1024, 1910.1024(b), 1910.1024(i)(4), 1910.1024(i)(4)(ii)
A leaf blower should not be used to remove silica dust from clothing 2 1926.1153 - Index, 1926.1153(f)(1)
Electrical protective equipment - testing intervals for rubber insulating gloves 2 1910.137 - Index, 1910.137(c)(2)(viii)
Bloodborne Pathogens Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up 5 1910.1030 - Index, 1910.1030(f)(1)(ii)(D), 1910.1030(f)(3)(iii), 1910.1030(f)(3)(iii)(A), 1910.1030(f)(3)(iii)(B)