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.

Filters


Date Title Standard Number
Ergonomic Hazards in Ultrasound Sonography
Training requirements for on scene incident commanders in OSHA's HAZWOPER standard 1910.120, 1910.120(q)(6), 1910.120(q)(6)(v)
Use of age-correction tables in OSHA's Noise standard 1904.10, 1910.95
Emergency eyewash protection when exposed to 0.1 percent or greater formaldehyde 1910.1048, 1910.1048(i)(2), 1910.1048(i)(3), 1910.1048(m)(1)(i), 1910.1048(m)(1)(ii), 1910.1048(m)(1)(iv), 1910.1200
Respirators for asbestos Class I work 1926.1101, 1926.1101(h)(3)(i)(A), 1926.1101(h)(3)(i)(B), 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv)(A), 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv)(B)
Retention of medical and exposure records by successor employers 1910.1020, 1910.1020(h)(1)
Suspended scaffold and fall protection requirements applicable to elevator construction 1926.450(b), 1926.451(g), 1926.451(h), 1926.500(b), 1926.502(d)
HCS applicability to an industrial marker containing liquid paint or ink 1910.1200, 1910.1200(c), 1910.1200(f), 1910.1200(g)
Clarification on the work-related exception in 1904.5(b)(2)(viii) for the common cold or flu 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5(b)(2)(viii)
Retention of atmospheric monitoring records for a permit-required confined space 1910.146, 1910.146(d)(5), 1910.146(d)(14), 1910.146(e)(6), 1910.1020, 1910.1020(b)(1), 1910.1020(c)(5), 1910.1020(c)(13), 1910.1020(d)(1), 1910.1020(d)(1)(ii)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard 1910.140(c)(4), 1910.269, 1910.269(r)(7)(i)
Respirable Crystalline Silica Focused Inspection Initiative in the Engineered Stone Fabrication and Installation Industries 1910.1053, 1926.1153
Powered Industrial Trucks 1910.178, 1910.178(a)(1)
Imminent Danger 1903.13
Minimum approach distance (MAD) 1910.137(b), 1910.269(l)(3)(iii), 1910.269(l)(5)(ii)
Group Lockout/Tagout 1910.147(f)(3)
Confined Space Entry Permits 1910.146(d)
Clarification on terms used in OSHA's PSM standard 1910.119
OSHA posters and other government labor law posters on top of one another on a wall mounted hanger 1903.2(a)(1)
Clarifications for breathing air quality and use 1910.134, 1910.134(d)(1)(ii), 1910.134(i), 1910.134(i)(1)(ii), 1910.134(i)(4)(iii), 1910.134(i)(5)(ii)