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
Corrected Tables A and B for 1926 Subpart R, the Steel Erection Standard. 1 1926.757(c)(3)
Use of body harness verses body belt for fall protection when working from elevated powered industrial truck platforms. 1 1910.178
Fall protection requirements for employees working from a "work bridge" in concrete construction work 4 1926.450(b), 1926.451(g), 1926.451(g)(4)(ii), 1926.701(b)
Sharps injury logs are intended to track departments, devices, and/or procedures causing injuries, not injured employees. 3 1910.1030, 1910.1030(h)(5)(i)(A), 1910.1030(h)(5)(i)(C)
Training and PPE requirements for hospital staff that decontaminate victims/patients. 11 1910.120, 1910.120(q), 1910.120(q)(3), 1910.120(q)(3)(iv), 1910.120(q)(6), 1910.120(q)(6)(ii), 1910.134, 1910.134(c), 1910.132, 1910.132(d), 1910.132(d)(2)
Applicability of the confined-space standard to dock-leveler pits. 8 1910.146, 1910.146(b), 1910.146(c)(7), 1910.146(c)(7)(i), 1910.146(c)(7)(ii), 1910.146(c)(7)(iii), 1910.146(c)(7)(iv), 1910.147
Typographical error in internet text of 1926.800(r)(13)(ii). 2 1926.800, 1926.800(r)(13)(ii)
Safer medical devices must be selected based on employee feedback and device effectiveness, not Group Purchasing Organizations. 5 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(A), 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(B), 1910.1030(c)(1)(v), 1910.1030(d)(2)(i), 1910.1030
Alternative fall protection procedures for residential construction. 3 1926.501, 1926.501(b), 1926.501(b)(13)
Steel erection concrete testing requirements and number of samples required to be taken 2 1926.752, 1926.752(a)(1)
Clarification on determining if an injury or illness is work-related and the recordability of the administration of oxygen. 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5
Compliance requirements for relocatable power taps or "power strips" 6 1910.303(b)(2), 1910.303, 1910.304(b)(2), 1910.304, 1910.305(g)(1), 1910.305
Fall protection requirements for employees, other than roofers, working on low-slope roofs 11 1926.502, 1926.502(b), 1926.501, 1926.501(b), 1926.501(b)(10), 1926.501(b)(2), 1926.501(b)(12), 1926.501(b)(13), 1926.502(f), 1926.502(f)(2), 1926.500
Applicability of the steel erection standard to repair and installation of metal roofing and roofing accessories. 13 1926.502, 1926.502(d)(15)(i), 1926.502(d)(15)(ii), 1926.502(d)(15), 1926.750(a), 1926.750(b)(1), 1926.750(b)(2), 1926.751, 1926.753(c)(5), 1926.757(a)(4), 1926.757(e)(4), 1926.760(c), 1926.760(d)(2)
Additional clarification of using ANSI Z358.1 as guidance to comply with 1910.151(c). 1 1910.151(c)
Applicability of the steel erection standard to pre-cast concrete erection work; pre-planning of hoisting routes and procedures. 2 1926.550, 1926.550(a)(19)
Issuance of "unclassified" citations as a settlement tool. 1 2200.100
Use of aerial lift or scissor lift guardrails as a work or scaffold platform. 11 1926.450, 1926.502(d), 1926.451(b), 1926.451(b)(2)(ii), 1926.453(b)(2)(iv), 1926.451(a)(1), 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.451(f), 1926.502(d)(23), 1926.451(g)(1), 1926.452(w)
Field bolting and welding requirements for steel joist assembly 10 1926.757, 1926.757(b), 1926.757(b)(1), 1926.757(b)(2), 1926.757(b)(3), 1926.757(a)(8), 1926.757(c)(1), 1926.757(c)(2), 1926.757(a)(8)(i), 1926.757(a)(8)(ii)
Application of the bloodborne pathogens standard to veterinary clinics. 1 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)