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.

Date	Title	Standard Number
10/23/1983	Carcinogen standards requirements for fume hood face velocities do not apply to laboratories.	1910.1003, 1910.1016
10/17/1983	One type of muff and plug available for employee hearing protector selection.	1910.95(i)(3)
10/13/1983	A free standing scaffold shall be considered safe when the total height is equal to or less than four times the minimum or least base dimension.	1926.451(d)(7)
10/04/1983	Nuisance dust standard applies to grain dust exposures.	1910.1000
10/04/1983	Standards for falling hazards less than 25 feet.	1926.28(a)
10/04/1983	The use of self-tripping on hydraulic power presses.	1910.217
09/30/1983	Ear muffs and ear plugs are not both required if one offers protection.	1910.95(i)(3)
09/27/1983	Notification requirements for standard threshold shifts.	1910.95
09/23/1983	Employee access to medical records.	1910.1020
09/16/1983	Clarification of our railing requirements in 29 CFR 1910.23(e).	1910.23
09/16/1983	Applicability of the noise standard to portable ear muff type radios.	1910.95
09/06/1983	Interpretation on applicable standards for bulk coal handling facility at a marine terminal.	1917 - Table of Contents
09/01/1983	Fall restraint systems for employees building scaffolds in a location where the scaffold that is being built provides the only tie-off point.	1926.451
08/31/1983	Alternatives to safety glass protected by screening for observation windows, where hard deep-cutting abrasives are used.	1910.94(a)(3)(i)(d)
08/29/1983	Clarification of the words "open sides" for two-point suspension scaffolds.	1910.28
08/23/1983	Clarification on standards for head protection.	1926.100, 1910.132, 1910.135
08/23/1983	OSHA has no specific standards for security guards.	1910.141
08/15/1983	Citation guidelines in relation to monitoring programs.	1910.95(d)
08/10/1983	"Mr. Ouch" Labeling System.	1910.303
08/10/1983	The use of cranes with work platforms connected (not suspended) from the last section of a crane boom.	1910.67

Letters of Interpretation

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