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
OSHA practices in recognizing national testing laboratories. 1910.303(a)
Revisions of hearing conservation standard under consideration applicable to logging industry. 1910.95(c)
Clarification of 1910.23 as it would apply to repair pits. 1910.23
Eyewash equipment is not an acceptable substitute for protective eyewear. 1910.151(c)
The Norton 180 eye protector complies with ANSI Z87.1-1968. 1910.133(a)(6)
Standard applies to tank trucks, not towing kettles. 1926.152(g)(2)
Use or powered air purifying respirators for abrasive blasting. 1910.94(a)(1)(ii)
Provisions for mounting lighting on guardrails. 1910.23(e)(5)(iii)
Letter concerning two pneumatic plier straightening presses. 1910.212
Applicability of the noise standard to pulpwood logging. 1910.95
Definition of "exposure" under 1910.1020. 1910.1020(c)(8)
OSHA's position that the main or emergency switches must be capable of being locked out. 1910.179
Requirements for back up alarms. 1926.601(b)(4), 1926.602(a)(9)(ii)
The ASME Pressure Vessel Code. 1910.261
Clarification on the applicability of 1915.115(a) and 1918.13(a) in marine construction. 1915.115(a), 1918.66(a)(1), 1926.605(a)
Hearing conservation standard in relation to poultry processing industry. 1910.95(c)
Clarification on window cleaning operations. 1910.28
Applicability of the Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles Standard to dust of coal tar pitch 1910.1002
Use of tube and coupler scaffolds. 1926.451(c)(5)
The use of photochromatic lenses in industry. 1910.133, 1910.133(a)(6)