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
10/06/2004	Loads must be attached to the block hook by a sling or other approved device and may not be attached directly to the running rope.	3	1910.179, 1910.179(n)(2)(i), 1910.179(n)(2)(ii)
10/05/2004	Ladder safety requirements for towers more than 20 feet in length: sliding fall protection devices, safety cages/wells, landing platform intervals.	5	1910.27, 1910.27(d)(5), 1910.27(d)(1)(ii), 1910.27(d)(2), 1910.23
10/05/2004	Grounding requirements for aerial lifts (bucket trucks) under the General Industry 1910.269 and Construction 1926.952 standards.	8	1910.269, 1910.269(n)(6), 1910.269(n)(7), 1910.269(l)(2), 1926.950(c), 1926.952(b)(2), 1926.954(e)(1), 1926.954(e)(2)
09/30/2004	Permissibility of using average excavation depth to determine protective system requirements for the excavation.	5	1926.650, 1926.652(a)(1)(ii), 1926.652(a)(1), 1926.652(b), 1926.652(c)
09/30/2004	Clarification if a depression constitutes a hole or unprotected side/edge and associated fall protection requirements.	5	1926.500(b), 1926.501(b)(1), 1926.501(b)(4)(i), 1926.501(b)(4)(ii), 1926.502(b)
09/27/2004	OSHA's web site postings of settlement agreements, citations, and proposed penalties for inspections are public information subject to the disclosure pursuant to the FOIA.	1	2200.100(c)
09/27/2004	Alternatives to common back-up alarms on construction motor vehicles; use of other effective technology or observers/signal persons.	9	1926.601, 1926.601(b), 1926.601(b)(4), 1926.601(b)(4)(i), 1926.601(b)(4)(ii), 1926.602, 1926.602(a), 1926.602(a)(9), 1926.602(a)(9)(ii)
09/24/2004	Applicable standards for telecommunications non-industry specific operations, e.g., retail, call center, warehouse, and administrative locations.	8	1910.268, 1910.268(a), 1910 - Table of Contents, 1910.5(c), 1910.268(a)(3), 1910.268(g)(1), 1910.268(n)(7), 1910.268(n)(8)
09/20/2004	Regulations concerning the size and use of safety traffic cones in General Industry.	1	1910.145
09/17/2004	Bloodborne Pathogens Standard as it relates to contaminated laundry, sharps containers, and the Hepatitis B vaccine in fitness centers.	6	1910.1030, 1910.1030(a), 1910.1030(b), 1910.1030(c)(2), 1910.1030(d)(4)(iv)(A), 1910.1030(d)(4)(iv)(A)(1)
09/17/2004	Protection of employees from exposure to live electrical parts with plastic switch plates/receptacle cover and non-conductive screws.	3	1926.405(j)(1)(i), 1926.416(a)(1), 1926.404(f)(7)(i)
09/14/2004	Fall protection requirements for employees working from a slide-out extension of a scissor lift platform.	2	1926.451(g), 1926.451(g)(1)
09/13/2004	Powered industrial trucks must not be placed into service, or must be removed from service, when any condition exists that adversely affects the safety of the vehicle	3	1910.178, 1910.178(p)(1), 1910.178(q)(7)
09/08/2004	Responsibility of the employer and manufacturer to present consistent information between the labels and material safety data sheets.	1	1910.1200
09/08/2004	Recommendations for preventing prolonged suspension in personal fall protection systems.	2	1910 Subpart D, 1910 Subpart I
09/03/2004	OSHA has no specific standard on autoclaving used medical instruments.	2	1910.1030, 1910.1030(d)(2)(viii)
09/01/2004	Limiting factors for implementing the use of engineering controls, i.e., safety scalpels, under the Bloodborne Pathogens standard.	4	1910.1030(c)(1)(iv), 1910.1030(c)(1)(v), 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(B), 1910.1030(d)(2)(i)
08/26/2004	Use of glue to close a wound is medical treatment; prescription antibiotics/antiseptics for preventive treatment of a wound is medical treatment.	2	1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.7(b)(5)(ii)
08/26/2004	Recordability of a fatal traffic accident in a foreign project location.	2	1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5(b)(6)
08/25/2004	Payment for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is required to be provided by 1910.132.	1	1910.132