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
04/03/1990	Hazard Communication Standard.	1910.1200
03/30/1990	Underground Storage Tanks	1910.120
03/30/1990	Workplace standards establishing what concentration of tobacco smoke is "too much."
03/26/1990	Use of resheathing instruments or forceps is permitted for recapping of needles
03/22/1990	Interpretations of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard.	1910.120
03/21/1990	Machine guarding for drilling operations.	1910 Subpart O, 1910.212(a)(1)
03/20/1990	HCS on Hazard warnings required on product labels	1910.1200(f)
03/19/1990	Recommendations to Increase Availability of SAVES to the Field	1910.1200, 1910.110, 1926.702
03/16/1990	Secretary's Order 1-90 on delegation of authority and responsibilities on whistleblower statutes
03/15/1990	The proper handling of compressed gas cylinders particularly with reference to the moving of cylinders from place to place.	1910.101
03/15/1990	Information relative to handrails (guardrails) provided by OSHA offices at Denver and San Francisco.	1910.35
03/14/1990	First Aid Courses	1910.151, 1926.50(c)
03/13/1990	Mechanical power-transmission apparatus: compliance with current consensus standards.	1910.219
03/13/1990	Clarification of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) as it applies to independent contractors operating in beauty salons.	1910.1200
03/13/1990	Bloodborne diseases pathogens
03/13/1990	Clarification explaining that chest X-rays be retained in their original form.	1910.1020(c)(6)(i)(B), 1910.1020(d)(2)
03/13/1990	Specification for Lower Blade Guards for Radial Arm Saws	1910.213(h)(1)
03/08/1990	An engine overhaul work station being developed.	1910.179(n)(3)(vi)
03/05/1990	Handling of rejections in IMIS edit checks
03/05/1990	Requirements relating to spirometry contained in the cotton dust standard at 1910.1043 Appendix D.	1910.1043