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 standards applicable to medical and safety uses of pure nitrogen gas 1910.101, 1910.1200, 1910.1450
Clarification to the disclosure of chemical ingredients in SDS sections 3 and 8 1910.1200, 1910.1200(g)(2)(iii), 1910.1200(g)(2)(viii)
Determining if injuries and illnesses are work-related when employees participate in off-site voluntary charitable activity. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.5
Documentation of PHA Findings and Recommendations 1910.119(e)(5), 1910.119(e)(7)
Temporary Enforcement Guidance – Tight-Fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) Used During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 1910.134, 1910.134(f)(2)
Consuming hydrating liquids and solids in aluminum smelting facilities with beryllium below 0.1 percent (0.1%) by weight 1910.141(g)(2), 1910.1024, 1910.1024(b), 1910.1024(i)(4), 1910.1024(i)(4)(ii)
A leaf blower should not be used to remove silica dust from clothing 1926.1153 - Index, 1926.1153(f)(1)
Electrical protective equipment - testing intervals for rubber insulating gloves 1910.137 - Index, 1910.137(c)(2)(viii)
Bloodborne Pathogens Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up 1910.1030 - Index, 1910.1030(f)(1)(ii)(D), 1910.1030(f)(3)(iii), 1910.1030(f)(3)(iii)(A), 1910.1030(f)(3)(iii)(B)
Virtual Reality Safety Training, Various OSHA Standards 1910.120 - Index, 1910.269 - Index, 1910.1030(g)(2)(vii)(N)
Minimum separation distance between aboveground LPG containers (used for stationary engines) and buildings 1910.110 - Index, 1910.110(b)(6), 1910.110(b)(6)(ii)
Duty to have Fall Protection and Falling Object Protection While Performing Temporary and Infrequent Work on Roofs 1910.28(b)(13)(iii)(A)
Rope descent systems as it may apply to Industrial Rope Access Systems, covered under, 1910.27(b) 1910.27(b)
Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Enforcement Guidance on Decontamination of Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Healthcare During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 1910.134, 1910.134(d)(1)(ii)
Discretion in Enforcement when Considering an Employer's Good Faith Efforts During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 1910.95(g)(6), 1910.119(e)(6), 1910.120(e)(8), 1910.120(p)(7), 1910.120(q)(5), 1910.120(q)(7), 1910.134(f)(2), 1910.134(k), 1910.1048(l)(4), 1919.15, 1926.1412(f)
Expanded Temporary Enforcement Guidance on Respiratory Protection Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces in All Industries During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 1910.134, 1910.134(f)(2)
Enforcement Guidance for Use of Respiratory Protection Equipment Certified under Standards of Other Countries or Jurisdictions During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 1910.134(f)(2)
Enforcement Guidance for Respiratory Protection and the N95 Shortage Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic 1910.134(d)(1)(ii), 1910.134(f)(2), 1910.134 App B-1
Cyanide Antidotes 1910.126(e), 1910.151, 1910.151(a), 1910.1000