The application of the Personal Protective Equipment standard to PPE hazard assessment and training for laboratory and clinical health care workers.

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

January 23, 1995

David R. Miller, Ph.D.
Director Office of Environmental Safety
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza Houston, Texas 77030-3498

Dear Mr. Miller:

Laboratory Standard does not cover routine tests supporting production but non-routine, non-production-related tests are covered

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

August 8, 1990

Mr. Thomas M. Snyder, C.I.H. Supervisor, Industrial Hygiene Deere & Company John Deere Road Moline, Illinois 61265-8098

Dear Mr. Snyder:

This is in response to your letter of April 11, requesting an interpretation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Laboratory Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1450. We apologize for the delay in response.

Clarification regarding the frequency with which showers must be tested.

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

June 21, 1995

Carolyn S. Langer
Director of Occupational Health
and Safety Services
ML Strategies
701 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20215

Dear Ms. Langer:

This is in response to your letter of May 3, in which you asked for clarification regarding the frequency with which showers must be tested.

Implementation of a comprehensive chemical hygiene plan for lab operations

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

April 24, 1991

Mr. William M. Bernhart, CIH
Thomson, Rhodes & Cowie
Attorneys At Law
Two Chatham Center, Tenth Floor
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-3499

Dear Mr. Bernhart:

Time and resources needed to comply with Lab Standard is justifiable

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

April 19, 1991

The Honorable John T. Myers
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Congressman Myers:

This is in further response to your letter of March 7, enclosing correspondence from your constituent, Mark Hermodson, regarding compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" standard, commonly known as the Laboratory Standard.

Applicable OSHA standards and safety considerations for microwave device use in a laboratory

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

August 8, 2002

Gary Login, D.M.D., D.M.Sc.
Assistant Professor of Oral Pathology
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
209 Harvard Street, Suite 402
Brookline, MA 02446

Dear Dr. Login:

Clarification of PSM applicability to processes that are based partly or solely on quantities in connected atmospheric storage tanks.

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

February 11, 2003

Mr. Armin J. Moeller, Jr.
Balch & Bingham, LLP
Attorneys and Counselors
226 North President Street
Jackson, MS 39201

Dear Mr. Moeller:

Whether employers may designate an outside consultant as the Chemical Hygiene Officer under 1910.1450.

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.


February 15, 2008

Mr. Jeffrey S. Carter
Dvirka and Bartilucci Consulting Engineers
330 Crossways Park Drive
Woodbury, NY 11797-2015

Dear Mr. Carter,

Thank you for your letter dated November 21, 2007 to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding the permissibility of a consultant acting as the designated Chemical Hygiene Officer for a laboratory under 29 CFR 1910.1450. I apologize for the delay in responding to your letter.

Storage and use of compressed gas cylinders; whether cylinder is considered an oxidizing compressed gas or oxygen cylinder.

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

May 23, 2008

Mr. Charles Tricomi
Consolidated Edison of New York
31-01 20th Ave. Bldg. 136 2nd Fl.
Astoria, NY 11105

Dear Mr. Tricomi:

Thank you for your letter of September 18, 2007, to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP). You had questions concerning standards applicable to the storage and use of compressed gas cylinders. Your paraphrased questions and our response follow.

Labeling in Laboratory

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. This 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. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

March 12, 2012

Aldo Franco, Ph.D.
6680 Thornhill Court
Boca Raton, FL 33433

Dear Dr. Franco: