Letters of Interpretation | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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.

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How to Request a Letter of Interpretation

Date	Title	Standard Number
12/12/1997	Electrical hazardous area classification drawings in the workplace.	1910.119, 1910.307
12/08/1997	Requirements for machine and machinery guarding in the workplace.	1910.219
12/04/1997	Fall protection and access for scaffold erecting and dismantling.	1926.451(g)(2), 1926.451(e)(9)
12/03/1997	Recordability of Rossiter Workout treatment;heat or cold therapy recordability.	1904 - Table of Contents
11/25/1997	Scaffolds: removal of bracing; maximum loads; damaged planking; and foundations.	1926.451(c)(2)(iii), 1926.450(b), 1926.451(a)(1), 1926.451(f)(4), 1926.451(c)(2)
11/19/1997	Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).	1910.1200
11/19/1997	Carcinogen status of titanium dioxide relative to OSHA Standards	1910.1200
11/13/1997	Electronic monitoring system for complying with the confined space standard.	1910.146
11/13/1997	Alternatives to latex or vinyl may be used for protective gloves to comply with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard.	1910.1030
10/31/1997	Routine asbestos inspections, bulk sampling activities, and training with regards to specific provisions in the Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Standard.	1926.1101
10/31/1997	Clarification of the requirements of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard	1910.120
10/31/1997	Application of HAZWOPER.	1910.120
10/29/1997	The requirements of paragraph (m) in the OSHA HAZWOPER Standard.	1910.120
10/29/1997	Access to employee exposure and medical records.	1910.120, 1910.1020
10/28/1997	Application of glove monitoring devices to aid in the detection of gloves that fail during medical procedures.	1910.1030
10/22/1997	Interpretation of the machine guarding requirements.	1910.211, 1910.215
10/22/1997	Conditions where OSHA might accept a product that is not approved by NIOSH.	1910.134
10/21/1997	Inspection certification record requirements in overhead and gantry cranes.	1910.179
10/21/1997	A centralized repository for the electronic collection and dissemination of MSDSs.	1910.1200
10/10/1997	Fall protection requirements in Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating platforms.	1910.67, 1910.269, 1926.959