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
Minimum approach distance (MAD) requirements covered under 1910.269 when installing protective grounding equipment 1910.269, 1910.269(l)(3), 1910.269(m)(3)(viii), 1910.269(n)(3)
Measurement of background noise levels for audiograms 1910.95(h)(4), 1910.95 App D
PSM Coverage of LNG Facilities 1910.119
Hands-on training requirements of the OSHA HAZWOPER 1910.120(e)(3)
Classifying cloth-like wipes saturated with a hazardous solution under OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard 1910.1200(b)(1), 1910.1200(b)(2), 1910.1200(d)(1)
Interim Enforcement Guidance for the 2020 Final Beryllium Standards 1910.1024, 1915.1024, 1926.1124
Use of powered-air purifying respirators (PAPR) for welding operations and assigned protection factor 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A)
HCS compliant labeling of outer and inner packaging 1910.1200(c), 1910.1200(f)(1)
HCS listing of occupational exposure limits (OELs) in section 8 on a safety data sheet (SDS), and applicability of different exposures to pharmaceutical drugs 1910.1200(b)(6)(vii), 1910.1200(g)(2)(viii)
Determining the recordability of an illness when an employee uses a rescue inhaler following an exposure in the work place. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5, 1904.7
Determining who is responsible for recording an Injury or illness of police officer candidates when they attend training at a police academy. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.31
Determining if Injuries and Illnesses are work-related when employees commute from home to work and from a hotel to a worksite. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5
OSHA PSM and Explosives Standards as They Relate to the DOT Classification "Not in the Explosive Class" 1910.109, 1910.109(a), 1910.109(k), 1910.109(k)(2), 1910.109(k)(3), 1910.119, 1910.119(a)
Determining whether to record an employee’s injury that involved both work-related and non-work-related incidents. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5
Fixed Ladders on Grain Storage and Handling Equipment 1910.21(b), 1910.28(b)(9)(i)(B)
Reporting two related reportable events. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.39
CDC Updates to Tuberculosis (TB) Guidelines
Clarification of the HAZWOPER standard to employees engaged in the cleanup of blood from crimes or trauma incidents 1910.120, 1910.120(q)(6), 1910.120(q)(11), 1910.1030
Fall protection requirements when a rope descent system is used with davit booms 1910.140(c)(12), 1910.140(c)(13), 1910.27(b)(1), 1910.140(b)
Emergency eyewash requirements for eye hazards caused by bloodborne pathogens 1910.151(c), 1910.1030, 1910.1030(d)(2)(vi), 1910.1030(d)(3)(x)