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 Standard Number
Virtual Reality Safety Training, Various OSHA Standards 3 1910.120 - Index, 1910.269 - Index, 1910.1030(g)(2)(vii)(N)
Minimum separation distance between aboveground LPG containers (used for stationary engines) and buildings 3 1910.110 - Index, 1910.110(b)(6), 1910.110(b)(6)(ii)
Duty to have Fall Protection and Falling Object Protection While Performing Temporary and Infrequent Work on Roofs 1 1910.28(b)(13)(iii)(A)
Rope descent systems as it may apply to Industrial Rope Access Systems, covered under, 1910.27(b) 1 1910.27(b)
Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 0
Enforcement Guidance on Decontamination of Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Healthcare During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 2 1910.134, 1910.134(d)(1)(ii)
Discretion in Enforcement when Considering an Employer's Good Faith Efforts During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 11 1910.95(g)(6), 1910.119(e)(6), 1910.120(e)(8), 1910.120(p)(7), 1910.120(q)(5), 1910.120(q)(7), 1910.134(f)(2), 1910.134(k), 1910.1048(l)(4), 1919.15, 1926.1412(f)
Expanded Temporary Enforcement Guidance on Respiratory Protection Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces in All Industries During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 2 1910.134, 1910.134(f)(2)
Enforcement Guidance for Use of Respiratory Protection Equipment Certified under Standards of Other Countries or Jurisdictions During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 1 1910.134(f)(2)
Enforcement Guidance for Respiratory Protection and the N95 Shortage Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 3 1910.134(d)(1)(ii), 1910.134(f)(2), 1910.134 App B-1
Cyanide Antidotes 4 1910.126(e), 1910.151, 1910.151(a), 1910.1000
Temporary Enforcement Guidance - Healthcare Respiratory Protection Annual Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces During the COVID-19 Outbreak 1 1910.134(d)(1)(ii)
Tagging transmission lines covered under, 1910.269(m)(3)(ii) 3 1910.269(m), 1910.269(m)(3), 1910.269(m)(3)(ii)
Sunglasses for welders in shipyard employment 6 1915.152(f)(2), 1915.152(f)(4)(ii), 1915.153 - Index, 1915.153(a)(1), 1915.153(a)(4), 1915.153(b)
Personal Fall Arrest System or Ladder Safety System on Fixed Ladders, and Fixed Ladders Used on Grain Silos for Emergency Escape 2 1910.23(a)(1), 1910.28(b)(9)(i)(B)
Use of Zipstitich and Clozex to close a wound is medical treatment beyond first-aid. 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.7(b)(5)(ii)
Regarding the applicability of construction standards to certain commercial sign installation activities 2 1926.32, 1926.1427
Heights of Handrail and Stair Rail Systems 3 1910.29(f)(1)(i), 1910.29(f)(1)(ii)(B), 1910.29(f)(1)(iii)(A)
Updates to PHA Extended Shutdown Facility 1 1910.119(e)(6)
Retention of Spirometry Records 8 1910.1020(c)(6)(i)(B), 1910.1020(b)(3), 1910.1020(d), 1910.1053, 1910.1053(i)(6), 1926.1153, 1926.1153(h)(6), 1910.134(e)(6)(i)