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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Date Title Standard Number
Forklifts in construction: elevating personnel and operator training. 1926.451(c)(2)(iv), 1926.602(c)(1)(vi), 1926.602(d), 1910.178(l)
Fall protection, lifejacket, and lifesaving requirements when working over or near water. 1926.501(b)(1), 1926.105, 1926.106, 1926.106(a), 1926.106(c), 1926.106(d), 1926 Subpart M
1910.178 does not apply to agricultural operations. 1910.178, 1928.1, 1928.21(a)
Protection of ground-level workers from lowering of aerial lift bucket 1910.67, 1926.453
Neither a waist nor chest strap is a required part of body harness. 1926.500(b), 1926.502(d)(16), 1910.66 App C
Field sanitation standard requirements; OSHA does not approve products. 1928.110
Application of asbestos standard's brake and clutch repair provisions. 1910.1001(f)(3)
Falling object protection on scaffolds at scaffold access points. 1926.451(h)
Lanyards and vertical lifelines must meet breaking and tensile strength requirements. 1910.66 App C, 1926.502(d)
OSHA requires fall protection for elevator work when a fall hazard is present. 1910.23
Log skidder operators must be trained in accordance with 1910.266(i)(3)(ii) 1910.266(i)(3)(ii), 1910.178(l), 1910.5(c)(1)
Appendix A requirements and techniques for fit testing respirators. 1910.134(f), 1910.134 App A
Rough Terrain Forklift training course; OSHA doesn't approve products/services. 1926.602(d), 1910.178(l)
Requirements for demolition operations involving material containing <1% asbestos. 1926.1101(b), 1926.1101(f), 1926.1101(g), 1926.1101(k), 1926.1101(n)
1910.134(i) does not apply to portable breathing air compressors. 1910.134(i)
Abrasive blasting monitoring requirements and sampling procedures. 1910.94(a)(2), 1926.57(f)(2), 1926.62(d), 1910.1018(e), 1910.1027(d)
Correct method for calculating whole body dose for ionizing radiation. 1910.1096
OSHA's position on deviations from the manufacturer's guidelines on scaffolds. 1926.450(b)
Notification compliance for employees exposed above inorganic arsenic PEL. 1910.1018(d)(1), 1910.1018(d)(2), 1910.1018(g)(2)
Administering a post-exposure hepatitis B vaccine booster is considered medical treatment. 1904.12(d), 1904.2