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
Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Record and the OSHA’s Federal Labor Laws Poster 1910.1020(g)(1), 1910.1020(c)(5), 1910.1020(c)(6), 1903.2
Interim Enforcement Guidance for the Respirable Crystalline Silica in General Industry/Maritime standard, 29 CFR 1910.1053 – June 23, 2018, Enforcement Date 1910.1053, 1926.1153, 1926.1153(d)(2)(v)
Notice of Delay in Enforcement for Certain Provisions of the Beryllium Standards to August 9, 2018
Exit route stairways that comply with the codes of the NFPA and the IFC 1910.6, 1910.34 - Index, 1910.35 - Index, 1910.36(g), 1910.37 - Index
Extension of the National Emphasis Program on Amputations (NEP) until September 30, 2019 1910 Subpart J - Index, 1910 Subpart O - Index, 1910 Subpart P - Index
HCS pictogram labeling of DOT-39 Non-Refillable Cylinders 1910.1200, 1910.1200(f)(1)
Enforcement Launch for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard in General Industry and Maritime, 29 CFR § 1910.1053
Flammable Liquid Processing Letter 1910.106, 1910.119
Interim Enforcement Memorandum and Notice of Delay in Enforcement for Certain Provisions of the Beryllium Standards 1910.1024, 1926.1124, 1915.1024
Memorandum to Regional Administrators – Process Safety Management Retail Exemption Enforcement Policy 1910.119
Voluntary use respirators 1910.134, 1910.134(c)(2), 1910.134(c)(4), 1910.134(f), 1910.134(e)
Filtering facepiece respirators and medical evaluations 1910.134(b), 1910.134(c)(2), 1910.134 App D
Regarding guardrail systems and fall protection requirements to scaffold systems, including form scaffolds. 1926.451(g)(4)(i)
Labeling and waste disposal requirements for glovebags in OSHA’s asbestos standard for construction 1926.1101, 1926.1101(b), 1926.1101(k)(8)(i), 1926.1101(l)(2)
Paint operations on aircraft and ground support equipment as related to the Chromium (VI) Standard’s exception for aircraft painting 1910.1026(f)(1)(ii)
Delay of Enforcement of the Beryllium Standards under 29 CFR 1910.1024, 29 CFR 1915.1024, and 29 CFR 1926.1124 1910.1024, 1915.1024, 1926.1124
Interim Enforcement Procedures for Failure to Submit Electronic Illness and Injury Records under 29 CFR 1904.41(a)(1) and (a)(2) 1904.41(a)(1), 1904.41(a)(2)
Medical surveillance requirements in OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica standard for construction 1926.1153, 1926.1153(e)(1), 1926.1153(e)(2), 1926.1153(h)(1)(i), 1926.1153(h)(2), 1926.1153(i)(2)(i)(A), 1926.1153(i)(2)(i)(F)
Recording Injuries and Illnesses of Temporary Workers versus HIPAA Requirements 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.31
Implementation of the 2018 Annual Adjustment Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvement Act of 2015