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
Application of OSHA construction standards to govern the use of pneumatic hand tools used in construction for cleaning concrete forms, bridge decks, and roads. 1915 - Table of Contents, 1917 - Table of Contents, 1926 - Table of Contents, 1926.151(a)(5), 1926.152(i)(6), 1926.300, 1926.300(a), 1926.302(b), 1926.302(b)(1), 1926.302(b)(4), 1926.302(b)(5), 1926.302(b)(7)
Safety chain requirements for pile driving hammer hoses. 1926.603, 1926.603(a)(9), 1926.603(a)(10)
Application of OSHA construction standards that govern the loading of materials onto scissor lifts and the restraining of those stored materials. 1926.450, 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.454(a), 1926.454(b), 1926.451(a)(6), 1926.250, 1926.451(h), 1926.451(f), 1926.452(w)
29 CFR 1926.350(a)(7), securing compressed gas cylinders - rational for and hazards addressed by the requirement. 1926.350, 1926.350(a), 1926.350(a)(1), 1926.350(a)(6), 1926.350(a)(7), 1926.350(a)(9), 1926.350(a)(11), 1926.350(a)(12)
Use of a warning line instead of conventional fall protection; Part 1926 Subpart M 1926.501(b)(10), 1926.501(b)(1), 1926.501(b)(2), 1926.502(b), 1926.502(f)(2)
OSHA's multi-employer citation policy application to a homeowner who contracts with specialty contractors to perform construction on a house
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Protection: prohibition of enforcing annual fit testing requirements during 2005 fiscal year; enforcement of other 1910.134 provisions. 1910.134, 1910.134(f)(2), 1910.134(f)(3), 1910.134(f)(4)
Installation of strobe lights on forklifts as an additional warning device for forklifts used in vessel holds. 1910 - Table of Contents, 1910.178(a)(4), 1910.178(l), 1917 - Table of Contents, 1917.43(b)(1), 1917.43(c)(5), 1918 - Table of Contents, 1918.65(b)(1), 1918.65(f)
Availability of the Servicing Multi-piece and Single Piece Rim Wheels standard's required charts and rim manuals. 1910.177
Needle removal procedures for situations where other methods of disposal are infeasible or required by a specific procedure. 1910.1030(d)(1)(ii)(B), 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A), 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(B)
LOTO: Use of heavy-duty nylon cable ties as lockout devices in lieu of chains and locks. 1910.147, 1910.147(c)(5)(i), 1910.147(c)(3), 1910.147(c)(5)
Compliance of automatically retractable rest platforms used with self-retracting lifelines for meeting requirements for fixed ladder safety equipment. 1926.1053(a)(19), 1926.1053(a)(19)(i), 1926.1053(a)(19)(ii), 1926.1053(a)(19)(iii), 1926.1050(b)
Residential fall protection: safety monitors; walking top plate of braced walls in installation; warning line; plating exterior walls; height limitation; non-roofer PPE; slide guards 1926.502, 1926.502(h), 1926.502(h)(1), 1926.502(h)(1)(i), 1926.502(h)(1)(ii), 1926.502(h)(1)(iii), 1926.502(h)(1)(iv), 1926.502(h)(1)(v), 1926.502(k), 1926.501(b)(10), 1926.501(b)(13)
Determination of the date of an injury or illness for OSHA recordkeeping purposes. 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.6(a)
Conditions under which use of powered industrial truck not designated EX can be used in atmospheres containing carbon black. 1910.178, 1910.178(c)(2)(ii)(a)
Duty of a subcontractor to cover floor holes in a Multi-Employer work site. 1926.501(b)(4), 1926.501(b)(4)(i), 1926.501(b)(4)(ii), 1926.501(b)(4)(iii), 1926.502(i), 1926.501, 1926.502(i)(2), 1926.502(i)(3), 1926.502(i)(4)
Determining the need for hard hat and eye protection on construction sites. 1926.100, 1926.100(a), 1926.102(a), 1926.95, 1926.95(a), 1926.28(a), 1926.102(a)(1)
Acceptability of using a sleeve to anchor a column; protection from hazard of swaying columns. 1926.755(a)(1), 1926.755(a)(2)
Posting requirements for notices in other languages. 1903.2
Recognition of ANSI/ASSE Z244.1 "Control of Hazardous Energy - Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods" consensus standard 1910.6, 1910.147, 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)